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Severus Snape, potions instructor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, walked up from his quarters towards the Great Hall. He was a little early because he wanted to have breakfast quickly and then return to his rooms.

"Good morning, Professor!" Pansy Parkinson of his own house, Slytherin, greeted him cheerfully. As he passed the wall of Slytherin which guarded the house common room.

"Good morning, Miss Parkinson," Snape replied with dignity. The girl was in for disappointment. For the first time in over a decade, there was not going to be an advent calendar. This was the reason why Snape was so early. He anticipated the Hogwarts population expecting another calendar of him and despite what people said, Snape hated to disappoint so many people at once.

The Slytherins must have been waiting for him because his whole house fell into line behind him. So much for avoiding the masses. Snape sighed internally.

Things got worse when he entered the Great Hall. Everybody but the Slytherins was already there!

The potions master steeled himself and walked up to the head table to sit on Dumbledore's left, his usual seat.

Everybody was looking at him expectantly.

Snape harrumphed and reached for the coffee pot.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Dumbledore asked benignly.

"Oh, sorry, good morning!" Snape reached for the pot again but it slid out of reach.

"And?" Dumbledore asked expectantly.

"And nothing, I'm sorry," Snape admitted.

The students' faces fell and the teachers looked disappointed, too.

Snape used the moment of frustration to finally grab the coffee pot. He poured himself a cup and took a sip. "Aren't you here for breakfast?" he asked as innocently as he could. Slowly, the stunned silence was broken by the rustling of robes as people reached for dishes and a minute later the Great Hall was filled with the sound of cutlery on plates.

As the meal slowly wound down, another sound filled the air. Dozens of post owls swooped down to deliver letters. The gloom that had dominated the room was replaced by excitement. So close to Christmas, post often meant small gifts – boxes of cookies, chocolates, Christmassy cakes – but also questions about what was desired for Christmas.

Snape was relieved. Finally the students were distracted, and in a good way!

"Look! What is that?" Harry Potter of Gryffindor was pointing up. Having played seeker for years, he was the first to spot the unusual animal bringing a letter.

The potions master – and most of the assembled witches and wizards – gasped when a tiny reindeer, about the size of a guinea pig, landed beside his plate. The small beast bowed to him and he spotted a scroll of parchment tied to its collar.

Snape untied the letter carefully and the reindeer took off without waiting for a treat. It circled Snape's head a couple of times and then landed on his left shoulder, nuzzling his snout against his cheek.

"Is it from Santa?" a little first year asked hopefully.

Snape opened the letter and checked the signature. "It is, indeed," he then announced to the hall at large. The students cheered but quieted down quickly. The potions master quickly realised that every eye in the hall was on him.

"If I may," he checked for Dumbledore's permission before he got up and cleared his throat.

"Dear Severus," he read out, "and that's 'esteemed Professor Snape' to the lot of you," he glared at the students,

"I hope this letter finds you well. I have been thinking and realised that last year's game was not as enjoyable for you as I had anticipated. Therefore, I send you a proper advent calendar this year, hoping that you and those good people at Hogwarts will have fun. To make sure you get a proper present this year I sent the letter with one of my micro-reindeer. His name is Sverre and you are welcome to keep him as a pet. He is very magical and his hoof clippings make great potion ingredients. If you don't want him, you can return him to me at our annual Christmas gathering.

Enjoy!

Santa

PS: You are to share. You already have Sverre but you may take one more present on the day of your choosing."

Snape reached up to his shoulder and retrieved Sverre. He checked the collar again and, indeed, there was a tiny box attached to it. Once Snape untied it and put it on the table, it grew to the size of an orange. The box was green with silver stars on it and the lid showed the number one.

"Well," said Snape, "I think the first present should go to Hagrid, seeing that he needs to explain to me what micro-reindeer eat and drink."

"Thank you so much, professor!" the half-giant boomed. "I would have told you without a present but it's nice to be appreciated." He rose from his seat and approached Snape to get his gift.

Dumbledore had to help Hagrid with the box because it was too small for his big fingers to get his present out.

As soon as the gift was removed, the box snapped closed and the number two appeared on the lid.

Hagrid got all excited when he discovered his present was an egg.

"I've never seen one like that!" he cried. The egg was about the size of a goose egg but it was bright yellow with blue swirls. He held the egg carefully between his hands as he returned to his seat.

"Do you think that's a dragon egg?" Snape asked Dumbledore. The older wizard looked as worried as Snape felt. "I hope not!" he whispered back. "It will take a herculean effort to make Hagrid give up a dragon."

They had worried without reason though. About 15 minutes later, Hagrid cried out excitedly. "It hatches!"

Snape was out of his seat in an instant. Who knew what properties those eggshell splinters had! Therefore, he got a first row experience of watching a magical bird of paradise hatch. It was a chick when it hatched but grew to its full size within seconds. It was about the size of a phoenix but with blue and yellow plumage and a spectacular crown of feathers on its head.

The students oohed and aahed and some even clapped. The bird bristled and then took off to the rafters of the hall. Once seated it trilled and then sang a beautiful Christmas melody.

"Look at him!" cried Hagrid. "Such a good bird! I am so proud!" He blew his nose in his huge handkerchief. Once he had calmed down, he helped Snape collect the remains of the egg for his potions.

The potions master returned to his seat where he was greeted by Sverre who reclaimed his spot on Snape's shoulder. He finished his breakfast and then retired to his rooms. Sverre rode on his shoulder as if he had been sitting there all his life. From time to time the little beast nuzzled Snape's cheek, eliciting cries of delight from the closest students. By the time he reached his quarters Snape was determined to throttle the next person to throw the word "cute" at him.