Me own nothing just the OCs and the plot

10. Holiday times

The Holiday cheer had arrived at Hogwarts. The Gamekeeper, Hagrid, brought multiple trees into the castle for Christmas. Lessons would soon end, and Severus would be the only one of his group to stay behind. He didn't mind at all, even though he usually went with Lily at this time every year, that was until the events in June. Severus wasn't a fan of the Holidays. His family was partially to blame for this. Along with his friends, Severus walked to his last lesson of the term; it was a DADA, one of his favorite subjects along with potions.

The Slytherins arrived in the room, which was already filled with other students. Severus scanned the room to find Eva, talking to Remus Lupin, one of the Marauders. Contrary to her talks with Black and Potter, this one seemed friendlier, and she wasn't trying to aim for her wand. Eva turned around and saw Severus. She excused herself from Lupin, and went towards him, while his friends left to their seats.

"Hey Sev!"

"Hello."

"You ok? Come on, I saved you a seat."

Severus nodded and followed her on the other side of the room. By the looks of the organization of the room, it seemed they were going to practice dueling, and non-verbal spells. Professor Olympus, this years DADA professor, had decided to pair all the students up, and make a small contest on which pair would be top of the class. It was with much gratitude, that Severus happily went with Eva.

They both practiced a few spells, and technique to get to the top. Being a Ravenclaw, Eva of course took this assignment very seriously, also because she did love the subject. Severus didn't argue, he loved being with her on these occasions. After ten minutes, Professor Olympus called their attention.

"Alright, now we will start this little competition. Remember, no harmful spells, or hexes. Consider yourselves lucky that I am doing this for you all, instead of actually teaching this class. Now, I will choose who will start."

Olympus's eyes scanned the students' faces until he found Eva's "Miss Easgriff…"

"Yes sir?"

"Who is your partner?"

"Well, sir, you should know that, you did do the parings."

"Miss Easgriff I will not ask you again."

"My partner is Severus Snape, sir."

"Thank you. Mister Snape, you're up against…Ah Miss Evans!"

Severus went pale. Even after his last encounter with her, he still didn't want to hurt her. Eva asked him if he was ok with it, he simply nodded, and went on the small podium in front of Lily.

"Wands ready!"

Severus stood with his wand thinking of any harmless spells to use. He thought for a few seconds until the beginning of the duel.

Lily held out her wand "Impedimenta!"

"Protego!" cried out Severus just in time to block the infamous jinx, he then reciprocated with a charm. "Rictusempra!"

Lily easily blocked the spell, then used the disarming charm, Severus's wand flew out his hand and landed on the ground.

"Well done Miss Evans! Mister Snape go get your wand, now since you have lost, it's Miss Easgriff's turn to duel."

Severus went by Eva to apologies for losing, but she didn't mind at all. Eva went up on the platform waiting for her opponent, Mister James Potter.

"Ah Potter, ready for me to kick your ass."

"Not before I do it Easgriff!"

"Enough taunting from both of you, wands ready and begin."

James raised his wand first "Stupefy!"

"Protego! Impedimenta!" replied Eva

"Protego! Expelliarmus!" Shouted James, he wasn't ready to lose against her just yet.

"Protego!" said Eva just in time to block the disarming charm. "Everte Statum!"

James was quicker than she though, using the shield spell yet again. Eva didn't think he would be such a good dueler, she was now proven wrong.

Eva then raised her wand at James shouting out a spell "circum volutor! (1)" The spell caused James to fligh a few feet away, and roll over on the ground. "Accio Potter's wand!" and James wand flew into Eva's hand.

"Well done Miss Easgriff now please return Mister Potter's wand."

Eva returned to her seat next to Severus, who was desperate to know where the spell came from.

At last the bell rang. Lupin, who was paired up with James, won the friendly competition. Avery and Black came in second, and Eva and Severus third. There were no prizes to be won; just the satisfaction of doing a good job. Severus knew that this was the last class, and that all the students that were leaving to go home for the holidays, were going up to get their trunks. Eva didn't seem in a hurry, and decided to ask her why.

"You are not going to get your belongings?"

"Oh no, turns out Mother and Father are both going to Salem for another summit. It's either stay here or go to sweet Grandfather Easgriff's house."

"So you are staying?"

"Yes, Severus, yes I am. That means we get to celebrate Christmas together. David is going home, Mariana and Grace are going together to France with their families'. I, along with Quirrell, and five other people from the other years, are staying. What about you?"

"Me? I'm staying too, I don't know who else is."

"Are your buddies staying?"

"No they're all going home."

"Good, then I guess, I'll be waiting for you at dinner." She said as she left.

After saying goodbye to his friends, Severus went down to the Great Hall. It felt odd seeing it empty, even thought there were a few students left. He saw Eva waving, signaling him to come over. He sat by her and a few students, and ate while enjoying her company.

The next day after breakfast, Severus and Eva took a walk around the snow-covered castle, discussing their usual subjects. Severus, however, still had the memory of that one spell Eva used on Potter, which he tried to look for in the library.

"Eva."

"Yeah."

"Where did you learn that spell you used on Potter the other day? It was truly fascinating but I couldn't find it anywhere."

Eva paused for a moment then looked him in the eye. "Remember what I said about my family?"

"Yes."

"Well guess where the spell is from."

"Eva it was not dark magic…"

"Yeah I know, it's a jinx. My family took part in the invention of multiple spells, and kept a few for themselves. That was one of them"

"What do you mean by that?"

Eva realized she had said too much "What, nothing."

"Don't lie to me, what did you mean."

She looked at him for a moment "Sev, can I trust you?"

Severus froze for a moment, before responding "Yes, you can trust me."

"Ok. Can we go somewhere else then?"

Severus nodded, and they went back inside the castle to the small potion lab. He casted a silencing charm around the room, and turned to Eva who was uneasy sitting on a chair.

"Me and my big mouth." She kept muttering.

"Eva, I won't tell anybody."

"I know, but this is not something I am proud of. Both sides of my family, Easgriff mostly, have got a history of Dark Arts and creating spells. It goes all the way back to medieval times. They have made curses and hexes and jinxes, that you cannot find, only one though is known. And very well known."

"Which one is it? I'm sure it's nothing at all."

"Severus, I don't want you to know that, not now anyway please don't push it even more."

He nodded "Alright, but I do want to know one day."

"And you will."

"What spells did they invent them?" He asked changing the subject to make Eva feel more comfortable.

"Umm, well the spell I used on Potter, a few charms, I don't know them all. But I do keep a book with them listed in it."

"Could I see them one day?"

"Yeah I can trust you on this. You want to go back outside?"

"If you want. But could we start Occlumency and the Patronus soon?"

"Yeah, Sev, don't worry about it. We've got about a week, a week in a half until everyone comes back. Which reminds me, Christmas is in less than a week!"

Severus smiled at her comment. He remembered that he still had to get her a gift. It was the least he could do, for everything she did for him. They both went outside. Eva started to levitate snowballs and threw them at Severus, causing her to burst out in laughter. Severus though he was relieving the water balloon fight all over again. He did the same thing back to her, they continued for about twenty minutes until they were both too cold to raise their wands.

Eva led Severus to the Ravenclaw common room, and lit a fire for the both of them.

"So, why are you staying here?"

"Personal issues."

"Oh, care to share?"

He turned his face to her, she told him a part of her family's history, he felt it was his turn to do the same.

"Why not, it's…my father, he doesn't really care."

"He doesn't care for you?"

"Me, magic, only his alcohol is important to his eyes."

"Oh my gosh, Sev I'm so sorry, that's awful."

"Eva I don't want pity, especially from you."

"Sev, this is not pity, I care for you, you are my friend. From now on you can come whenever you want to my place, heck to can sleep over if it pleases you."

"Eva…"

"Now stop right there pal! My family is ok with it, I think, and David has been over, so has Remus. They won't do anything to you."

"Remus…Lupin?"

"Yeah."

"You're friends with a Marauder?"

"Sev stop acting like I just killed people! Remus is a good guy!"

"Have you seen him at the full moon?"

"Sev, that's low. He doesn't like moons."

"You believe that?"

"Are you accusing me of something!?"

"Just of believing a lie."

"He's my friend! Of course I believe him!"

"Why would he lie?"

They continued their argument for another fifteen minutes, until Severus left the common room, with Eva shouting in the background. "Don't let the door bite your lying ass on the way out!"

Severus didn't know how he was going to get over this one. Eva meant more to him then he thought. He realized he might just have lost her friendship. About two hours later, after cooling off, he went back to the Ravenclaw Tower hoping to talk to her. Just as he was arriving, Eva was walking towards him and stopped in front of him.

"Eva, please listen to me, I didn't mean to let all those things slip out, I'm sorry."

"No Sev, even thought I didn't like what you said about Remus, I shouldn't have said those thing about your friends. I have my part to be sorry as well. So peace?" She said as she handed out her hand.

"Peace." He replied by taking her hand, and shaking it.

"Guess we both got a bit carried away."

"Indeed."

Days passed. It was Christmas Eve morning. The entire castle waited impatiently for the next day. Eva and Severus tried Occlumency just the day before. She told him about her father teaching her Legilimency. She wasn't excellent, but it was enough to practice. They decided to practice in the potion lab. Today they were finally going to try the Patronus Charm. Severus arrived to see that Eva decorated the lab.

"Hey Sev! Happy Christmas Eve!" She cried out as she gave him a hug.

"Ummm, you too. Can we begin?"

"Oh yeah chill, relax. I've got the book right here. It says you must think of a happy memory."

"Seems simple."

Eva rolled her eyes; they started to cast the charm. They were both unsuccessful, but for a few glows of white light that came out from the tip of their wands. Eva knew this was a difficult spell to learn. It would take more than one lesson to learn how to produce a Patronus. The pair spent all morning in the lab, until Eva called it quits for the day.

They walked around the castle, trying to avoid Peeves without success.

"If it ain't Easgriffy and Snapy! Snapy lurves Easgriffy, seeing both of yee always together!"

Severus blushed, but Eva got red a started to shout at Peeves. "Get lost you loony idiot!" She turned to Severus "What was that spell you said you invented?"

"The tongue one?"

"Yes!"

Severus drew out his wand and aimed at a laughing Peeves "Langlock!" Peeves tongue was now glued to the roof of his mouth.

"That's better! Will it wear off?"

"Yes in about two hours or so."

"Fantastic, I think you have done everyone a favor."

They went through the day, and had a good time. Severus just then realized he spent the entire week with Eva, and enjoyed every moment. When Eva saw Flitwick, she ran off towards him to ask for something. Severus could see the professor glancing towards him and coming back to Eva. After their talk, she seemed very happy with the conclusion as she went back to Severus.

"Why was Flitwick looking over here?"

"Wow, right into it are we. Well I asked him if you could spend Christmas Eve in the Ravenclaw common room with me since we're only about ten or so."

"What did he say?"

"You could. He said you can be trusted, and will make sure your gifts arrive in the Ravenclaw common room."

"But isn't it prohibited for students that are not in the house to be there?"

"Maybe, but it's an exception, I don't want you to wake up tomorrow all alone. So are you going to do it?" She started to make puppy-begging eyes to Severus, even if it was a long shot.

"Fine, but there is no one else right?"

"Right, just you, me and the common room."

Severus nodded, and they went on with the day. Eva persuaded him to prank Filch, which he found to be quite amusing. They both prepared a 'welcoming' gift for Lockhart when he would come back to Hogwarts, and Eva was finally able to get Severus to play a bit of piano.

They tried the Patronus Charm again outside, without any luck. Eva then decided to do something else.

"Hey! Let's do some sledding!"

"What?"

"You know sledding, it's very popular among Muggles."

"I know what it is! I'm just curious on how you will manage without a sled."

"Have no fear, for improvisation is here!" She said has she looked around to find a large piece of flat wood, that she threw in front of Severus.

"What?"

"Ladies first."

"That won't work on me pal! You first"

Severus sat on the wood holding both sides while Eva sat behind him holding on to his chest. "Ready?"

Severus nodded and Eva casted a small spell to push them of the hill. Severus felt like he was holding on the wood for dear life, while Eva tighten her grip on him. They both screamed, and laughed at the same time, until they reached the bottom of the hill. Eva let go of Severus, and got up while he did the same.

"That was awesome! Want to do it again?"

"No."

"Why am I not surprised?" she answered half laughing

Severus rolled his eyes, it was now getting closer to the Christmas feast and they had to attend. Once the feast was over, they stopped by the Slytherin dungeons so Severus could have something to wear that night and the next day. Eva entered the Slytherin common room; she decided to wait for her friend inside. The common room was under the lake, as she saw multiple fish swimming by. The decoration was very dim with multiple tapestries of famous medieval Slytherins. Eva continued her tour of the common room and found a few photographs, one that looked familiar. Severus who was now done getting his things, went down to find her staring at the picture.

"Anyone you recognize?"

"Yeah I do. You see that man next to the guy with glasses?"

"Yes."

"That's granddad Easgriff."

"He was a Slytherin?"

"Yeah like his parents, like his wife, like my father. He felt like I was letting him down, humiliating the family because I got into Ravenclaw."

"I'm sorry about that. What about your mother?"

"Transfer student from Salem, arrived at the beginning of sixth year. She was sorted into Ravenclaw because she hated snakes, the hat gave her a choice like me."

"You were given a choice?"

"Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, I chose Ravenclaw to keep my father from getting disowned, Francis my grandfather would have done that."

Severus didn't want to go in any more details. The pair left the dungeons, and went to the Ravenclaw common room. Once they were both in their pajamas, and all washed, Eva transfigured two sheets into sleeping bags. They both laid on the ground and chatted for hours until they let sleep get the best of them.

When morning arrived, Severus was awaken by Eva who pushing him.

"Sev! Sev! Wake up! It's Christmas! Merry Christmas! You got presents!"

Severus couldn't believe what she just said, but apparently he had gifts. He walked over to the tree and sat on a chair. Eva was searching the tree, and found a few gifts for the both of them. She handed Severus a present that was from David, to which he was surprised, inside was a Muggle riddle book, the advantage of being raised in both worlds no doubt. Mariana and Grace got him some new black ebony robes, and Eva's parents sent him a notebook.

"This is from me."

Severus took the small package from her hands, and opened it to find a black quill with his initials written on it.

"Eva I don't know what to say to you, all of you."

"The word thank you works very well I've heard."

"What did you get?"

"The usual books, robes, notebooks, a souvenir from Salem…"

Severus reached under the tree to find the small package he got a few days ago at Hogsmead, and gave it to Eva.

"You got me something?"

Severus rubbed the back of his neck "Well, it's not much but…"

"It's okay Sev, thank you." Eva started to open the small box; she smiled as she lifted the gift, a small owl necklace, which looked like her owl Persil. (2)

"Sev, wow, thank you so much. What did I do to deserve this?"

"I don't know, you're…a good friend."

"No need to explain I love it." With that she immediately put her necklace on, with a wide smile that spread across her face. She went and gave Severus a kiss on the cheek and hugged him.

Christmas day went by very fast. Severus enjoyed every moment of the holiday and was happy with his gifts. He remembered that they only had a week until the return of his friends, and the rest of the students. He sighed, but pushed the though at the back of his head when Eva came to get him. They went outside to make a snowman, which lead to a snowball fight, as usual.

~~~~~~~~END OF CHAPTER~~~~~~~~

(1) from Latin that means to roll over

(2) An example of Eva's necklace : listing/79035839/owl-necklace-small-owl-on-branch-pendant

I hoped you liked this chapter. Thank you for reading this and following it as well. PM me if there are some things that aren't clear, or weird.

Hope you liked the holiday time between Eva and Severus, there will be more patronus practising in later chapters, and they will of course get it eventually.

Reviewers are welcome, and like I said before ideas for the patronus are welcome.

Until next time *Sees Peeves in a distance* "Oh Gosh why!"