Chapter 10:

Christmas Joys

"I don't have to go back! I don't have to go back!"

Harry was thrilled. He had just found out he didn't have to spend Christmas with the Dursleys. If he got permission, he could remain at Hogwarts over the holidays. Harry wasted no time. He wrote a note and sent it off with his owl Hedwig.

The answer was short and quick.

Yes.

Harry gave a whoop of joy, nearly plowing into Professor Snape on his way to find Hermione and Ron.

"Watch where you're going, Potter," Snape said distractedly.

Harry was too excited to care.

"I'm going to sign up right away," he said as he walked with Ron and Hermione to their next class, who shared his excitement equally.

"Mum and Dad changed their plans, so I'm staying too!" Ron grinned.

Harry grinned all the more.

"I wish I didn't have to go home now," Hermione moaned.

"What's this about not going home?" came a drawling voice.

The trio looked up to see Draco Malfoy and his two cronies Crabbe and Goyle. Harry instantly wanted to yank out his wand and belt them with some hexes.

"Nothing for you to know about, Malfoy," he said coldly.

A wicked grin spread on Draco's face. "You know," he said loudly, "I pity anyone who has to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas because they're not wanted at home. Don't you?"

Harry glared at Malfoy. Ron looked ready to punch him.

"Excuse me, Mr Malfoy, but don't you have somewhere else to be?"

All of them jumped. Malfoy whipped around.

Standing directly behind him was Professor Snape, his arms crossed.

Malfoy tried to look innocent. "Professor! Er…"

"Did you hear me, Malfoy?" Snape asked in his low voice.

"Yes, sir. We were just moving along. Come on, guys."

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle quickly left.

Hermione, Ron and Harry looked up at Snape, unsure of what to say.

"Enjoy your holidays," Snape said. "And do try and stay out of trouble," he added. Then he turned and was gone in a swish of black robes.

"That was weird," Ron said.

Harry shrugged.

Hermione said, "Maybe the Christmas season is getting to him, too."

Soon the only thing occupying Harry's mind was Christmas.

The Great Hall was decorated with no less then twelve giant fir trees brought in by Hagrid. The ghosts were wearing Dickens-style attire and singing lively carols as they drifted through walls. Even the teachers were getting into the spirit of things.

Professor McGonagall wore a sprig of holly on her emerald green robes. Even Professor Quirrell seemed to be trying to be jolly.

The only person in the whole school who wasn't enjoying himself was Professor Snape. Not that Harry was at all surprised. The professor seemed to be gloomier than ever as the festivities carried on around him. Harry almost felt sorry for him.

Maybe he's never had a good Christmas? Harry thought, then shook the idea away as Snape snapped at a Ravenclaw girl for giggling too loudly in the halls. Maybe Snape had just always been this way.

† † † †

Christmas morning dawned cold and clear and full of merriment for everyone except for Severus Snape.

Early in the morning, the gleeful sounds of children could be heard throughout the castle, echoing from the Gryffindor Tower down to the dungeons.

Snape dressed quickly and made his way outside. It was still dark, but the early gray light of dawn could be seen on the edge of the horizon. Owls swooped over the forbidden forest, heading back to the owlery. A thin blanket of fresh snow had fallen during the night.

Snape's boots crunched over the frost. He had gotten into the habit of this early morning walk eleven years ago. It focused his mind and worked off some emotion he otherwise would take out on the people around him. More than the usual amount of unsaid feelings were churning inside him at these small hours.

He found himself glancing up at the lit windows of Gryffindor Tower, then questioning why he had done that. Snape pulled his cloak closer.

There was a low hoot. A large barn owl swooped down and landed on Snape's outreached arm. The bird hooted again as Snape stroked its feathers. The owl looked at Snape with its big black eyes, clicking its beak happily. The owl then took off for the owlery and Snape returned to the warm interior of Hogwarts.

Breakfast had begun. Snape joined the other teachers at the great table. Many of them looked as if they would rather be sleeping. The scattering of students at the other tables were the opposite. They were wide awake, laughing and full of life, as they hardly ever were for any of their classes, least of all Potions. Most of them were either in Muggle clothes or still in pajamas.

At the Gryffindor table, Snape saw a small group of redheaded Weasleys. In the middle sat Harry Potter. They were all wearing jumpers in varying colours with the first letter of their names stitched on the front. Snape guessed these had been knit by Mrs Weasley.

Even Harry was wearing one and as apposed to Ron Weasley, seemed to be delighted with it. Harry's jumper was a deep green. He kept looking down as he ate, and fingering the wool, as though making sure it was still there.

Between he and Weasley was a chessboard. From Snape's point of view, it appeared that Weasley was winning, as a knight of his flung a pawn of Potter's across the board. Harry didn't seem to mind at all. He was laughing.

Snape continued to watch Harry throughout the day. The boy was the happiest Snape had ever seen him, even happier than when he was on a broomstick playing Quidditch. He and Weasley spent hours playing Wizard's Chess in the Great Hall with the fire roaring and the light reflecting off all the Christmas baubles and the icicles sparkling on the trees.

"This has been amazing," Snape heard Harry say.

"Yeah, not bad at all," Ron Weasley agreed, snacking on a box of Every Flavour Beans. His pet rat Scabbers was snoozing in the middle of the chessboard.

Harry took a handful of Beans.

"Good day, Harry?" Ron asked.

"It's the best Christmas I've ever had," Harry said with a grin.

Snape looked away from the cheery scene.

Though he didn't know why, something inside him ached.

† † † †