~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~
This chapter has been rewritten and redacted to exclude any smutty scenes as per FanFiction policy. There is another explicit version available on Archive of Our Own, under the username AugustsAria. If you wish to read the more mature version, please look there.
~~~~~Thank you!~~~~~
The Christmas spirit eventually won. Even if she was mad at Severus for how he treated her and acted around Remus, she still wanted to give him a gift to commemorate their first true holiday together.
Using her hefty Black Family purse she convinced an artisan to fashion the feather in just a few days and wrapped it nicely with an expensive bottle of black ink with a green metallic shimmer that expressed after it dried. She made sure to package it nicely in a green velvet box with a silver ribbon.
She was just wondering how she would give it to him, as they left things on a sour note, when he appeared in front of her.
Severus looked nervous and out of his element, refusing to make eye contact.
Still angry with him despite her softening intentions, she tried to dodge him. He caught her hand before she could escape and she could tell that his palms were sweating.
"Can I have a moment?"
His insistence made her frown but she nodded. A long pause followed as she faced him, studying his body language with fascination. He was nervous, so much so that he was avoiding looking at her, his gaze fixed down, and he held his hands tightly in front of his body as if to guard himself from fidgeting. When he didn't speak, Rune got impatient and shifted her weight to leave. He saw her foot move and looked up at her, his arm shooting out again to keep her there.
"First, I should say that I'm sorry. I acted very out of line." He said it very carefully, as if he was unsure of the wording. The apology was huge coming from him. Rune wasn't sure she had ever heard him apologize to anyone, and she could only stare in astonishment. The entire time that she had spent upset she was convinced that she would just eventually have to forgive him on her own, after she had time to cool off. Severus hated being wrong so she never thought he would step up first. Frankly, she never expected him to. She had only hoped he would take her anger to heart and amend his future behavior.
"Rune?" She had frozen from the unexpected turn and Severus was unsure how to handle the reaction. HIs call to her attention was gentle, and snapped her out of it.
"Oh. Um." Taken for a loop she furrowed her brow, thinking. "I… I mean... since you apologized, I suppose... I forgive you."
"That's a relief." His face relaxed and she realized that he had been holding his jaw tightly to await her response.
Another long silence fell as she processed the encounter.
"Rune…" He cleared his throat. "I was wondering… if you weren't leaving the castle for the holiday…"
"Yes?" The direction of his question made her hope, her body perking up as he spoke and her eyes brightening.
"I was wondering if you'd spend Christmas Eve with me." After he made such a grand statement, he kept his face severe and stoic. It was his default to look grouchy when he was upset or nervous so Rune could only find it charming.
"Oh." She felt her head nodding before she even could articulate a response. "Yes. I would love to."
It was a tentative truce. They were still awkward with each other but it no longer felt hostile. Things were patching up.
And before they knew it Christmas approached and the castle was empty and devoid of students. They had little reason to meet up with classes on hiatus, the details for the new term already hashed out, so she didn't see him much until Christmas Eve.
She was acutely aware that this was a big deal. Severus had asked her on a date. It was monumental, really, that he was showing so much interest. Deep down she felt doubt take root, her subconscious reminding her that she was his second choice. Rune desperately hoped she wasn't misinterpreting his intentions or else she would be crushed later.
Still, she was excited. So she found herself primping in front of the mirror. Truth be told, it was hard for her to look bad. Beyond her youthful visage her skin still looked too smooth to be real and she had no dark circles or blemishes. The effects of her experimentation still lingered, her skin like glass. For once she didn't feel disgusted by it, though, because she wanted to look perfect and beautiful and wanted to dress up. She found a black dress with long lace sleeves, frilled at the wrist, and a high collar. The bottom was short in contrast to the conservative top. For a moment she wished that she could wear something less restrictive that showcased her slender arms and collarbone, but her eye caught on the dark mark still present on her forearm next to the acid burn.
It was best to keep it hidden to avoid questions.
Once she was in the dress she slipped the potion vial on, uncomfortable being without it. It was layered with a choker that tied over the collar of the dress with a Slytherin House Crest cameo. Her mother's brainwashing was still deep within her making her believe that being a Slytherin was a matter of pride. Now, for no reason in particular, the familiar snake crest made her feel pride.
It helped that her date was also the Head of Slytherin House. It felt a little like a connection to him that she wasn't willing to give up.
Turning to check the mirror for how she looked in the back, she noted that it draped up pretty high, showcasing her pale and shapely thighs. A long moment passed as she considered if it was appropriate, but she decided she still liked how cute it looked on her small figure. In this dress she felt like an attractive and confident lady.
Besides, it was just Severus who would see it. He had seen her naked, so why would a dress matter?
Deciding to leave her hair down, she styled it so it cascaded in soft waves over her shoulder. Her black hair was long and thick and reached easily to mid back as cutting it was a hassle. Lastly she decided to do makeup, applying smokey black eyeshadow to her wide eyes and a dab of red stain to her plump lips. It widened her already doe like eyes and gave some color to her face.
She did look a little overdressed. Especially because she usually styled herself in a very demure and proper way. But today she wanted to pull out all the stops. Christmas was special. And so was Severus.
A knock sounded at her door.
"Oh! Coming!" Pulling out her wand, she shrunk the present. "Reducio!"
The now small box was tucked safely into her clutch, fitting perfectly. The little purse had a loop on the top to slip her wand into because the dress was too small to accommodate any pockets. She rushed to the door, her carefully selected heels clicking in rhythm on the stone floor. Once she opened it, her heart sped up, pounding in her throat, as she revealed her date.
While Severus was wearing his usual clothes, dapper and put together as always, his hair was carefully styled and his shoes were freshly shined. It warmed her heart to see that he also put some effort into his appearance. Again, she felt hopeful that they were finally on the same page.
He was also studying her attire, his mouth dropping open as he racked his eyes over her.
"Rune, you look…"
"Is it too much?" Nerves took hold of her and she worried her hands together in front of her stomach. Perhaps he was going to say something else, but after taking in her anxious body language he paused. Clearing his throat, he recalculated.
"No. You look stunning."
Relieved, she smiled at him and took his outstretched arm.
"Where are we going?" She asked with large, excited eyes.
"It's a surprise." He actually smiled at her, his face shifting ever so gently. That rare expression struck her harshly in the heart, as if she had been hit with a hammer. All the breath left her, and oxytocin flooded her brain. It was a shame when his expression faded as he lead her out, so she ran the image over again and again in her mind, memorizing it to recall later just so she could feel the butterflies in her stomach again.
The walk was long and when they stepped out of the castle the chill of the snow laden night she shivered, her bare skin clenching at the winter breeze. Severus saw her discomfort and pulled his cape off so he could drape it on her shoulders.
"Just a moment. I've arranged transport." Severus clapped and a carriage pulled by thestrals pulled up. He probably borrowed it from the castle since they were mostly used to transport students and had little use during the Holidays. For the first time she realized she should see thestrals. It had been so long since she had encountered any that she didn't even realize that the skeletal visage with black wings was no longer hidden to her.
It made sense. You had to see death to see a thestral, and she had poisoned that man personally.
Snape must have seen the way her eyes locked onto the beast and he gently guided her away. Considering he also was aware of the creature, it was likely he had seen someone die as well. But Rune couldn't ask who. Not only would it spoil the mood, if it happened to be Lily... she didn't think she could ever recover the evening.
"Marvelous creatures, aren't they?" He drew her attention, opening the door so she could slip inside the cab.
"Yes. I guess I just never took a good look before." Nervous, she clutched the cape tighter and ducked in. As she snuggled into the cloak she realized it truly smelled like him. A comforting smell, like freshly brewed Wiggenweld. Herbaceous and warm with a hint of ash from the cauldron fire.
She looked out the window, noting that the carriage began to move just as Snape got settled.
"Look, Sev. Isn't the snow lovely?" She held her hand out, catching an errant snowflake and watching it melt away onto her hand.
"Do you like the snow?" He asked.
"Yes. Though it's a little ironic. It's so pure and clean. It is something I could never be. Fundamentally something as white as snow is the opposite of a daughter of Black, right?" While she was jovial her smile was sad.
"I've always found you to be a painfully clear and pure soul, actually. I think snow suits you well."
Painfully clear and pure.
Those words were a compliment but did insinuate that her nature was troubling to him. She leaned against the window, her breath puffing little clouds into the night.
"What do you think of snow, Sev?"
"While it can be pure and clean, it can also be harsh and cold. It's a bit too biting for my liking." He looked at her, her dark tendrils of hair streaming into the night. "Though I must admit, the contrast between your dark curls and the bright snow is really something to behold. I'm enchanted."
The charismatic attack made her entire face flush a deep pink. Embarrassed, she squeezed her eyes shut, trying her best to keep her emotions under control. Sensing his stare, she dropped her hot cheeks into her hands, trying to block his view.
"That's not fair…" She muttered.
"Well, if you are quite finished hiding, we are here." He jumped off, extending a hand to help her down. She peeked out through her fingers and stared at him. Just as he was enchanted by her, she felt very spellbound by him. In his carefully starched black clothing he contrasted with the bright snow, the color leaning towards blue as it reflected the silver moonlight. His proud and sharp features were aristocratic, and dare she think princely, as he waited for his lady to take his offered support. Cautiously she reached out, putting her small gloved hand in his palm. And for the first time she realized that his hand was large and manly, completely encompassing her smaller fingers.
Leaning into him, she took the steps carefully so that her heels wouldn't snag on the small footholds. As she disembarked, she looked around and realized the place was very familiar.
"The Three Broomsticks?" While she did like the place it was not extremely inventive.
"Would you look at that?" Madame Rosmerta peeked out of the establishment. "When you asked for a private table for two I wasn't sure what to think. I certainly wasn't expecting little Rune."
"Rosie…" Rune blushed, hiding in Severus' oversized cloak. "I'm not little anymore."
"Well you certainly look little, with Severus' cape pulled up over your face like that. If I didn't see your identification myself I wouldn't have believed you. You don't' look a day over 20." Rosemerta laughed, enjoying the new side her regular customer.
"Ah… yes." Rune glanced away, nervous at the line of conversation. Her age was a touchy subject. Severus noticed.
"Did you prepare what I asked?" His question shifted the focus and Madame Rosmerta nodded.
"Right this way."
She led them up the stairs to the private area where there was a table set for two. It was a cute, private setup that was decorated tastefully in the spirit of the Holiday. Pine garlands and mistletoe berries lined the wooden furniture, giving the area a crisp forest scent. In the center of the table were snowdrop blooms in a small vase, surrounded by long white taper candles. Plates were set with silverware and wine glasses, the plates already full with comforting Christmas foods. Napkins were folded carefully in the glasses to look like flowers, adding to the glamor. It was an astonishing sight, especially because Rune had never seen the Three Broomsticks used in such a manner before.
"I'll leave you two be." Rose winked at them before descending the steps, casting a curious look at the pair as she left.
Severus led Rune to her seat, pulling it out so he could help her sit down, adjusting the cloak so it warmed her shoulders.
"You can have your cloak back." She reached up to remove it but he shook his head.
"It's plenty warm inside the pub for me. You keep it." Severus was wearing more coverage than she was in her scant dress, but she still felt touched, clutching the warm cloak gratefully.
"Thank you."
Rune looked down curiously the food, enchanted to keep warm. It was standard Christmas food with slices of roast goose, red currant jelly, and roasted parsnip. There was nothing she disliked, so she was looking forward to the meal. Rune couldn't remember the last time she had a Christmas Dinner that she could keep down. Something like this was served back in the Black Household at their annual Christmas Party, but she was in such a tight corset and paraded about so much she couldn't eat any of it.
"Have some wine." Severus waved his wand, easily popping the cork to the bottle, and poured her a glass of red wine. He was impeccable in his technique for pouring, leaving enough room to aerate it as he made a stream and enough space in the glass for it to breathe. She took it and sipped at it, pleased that it didn't have a tannic bitterness to it.
They chatted as they ate. Mostly about work, since it was a commonality for them, outlining what was to be done before the students came back.
After dinner the food was cleared and a desert was brought out. It was an unfamiliar dish to her and she stared at the jelly pudding type thing, trying to guess what exactly it could be.
"It's a Holiday Blancmange." Severus informed her, a gentle smile appearing on his face at her curious inspection.
The Black family was wealthy and had dozens of chefs on staff at any given time. She was by no means unworldly when it came to food. And yet, she had never heard of this desert.
It smelled divine, however, with nutty but earthy tones. It was also moulded into a cute little ridged ring shape, the sauce deepening in the crevices to show the texture.
"It looks delicious." She noted it had sugared mistletoe on top, an ingredient poisonous to muggles but easily transformed to something edible in the wizarding world. Taking her small desert fork in hand she easily sliced off a piece to try. It melted in her mouth, filling her tastebuds with creamy notes of almond, tart mistletoe berries, rich but sweet dirigable plum, and fragrant cinnamon. It was comforting and sweet, like a warm hug.
It was the perfect Christmas desert. Rune was astonished she had never had it before.
"Itisdelicious." Rune confirmed, taking another huge bite with sparkling eyes. Snape ate bites of the desert himself, looking pleased that she liked it.
"I thought you might enjoy it. You have a bit of a sweet tooth." Severus wryly noted. She frowned at his observation, wondering if it was said in judgment.
"So do I, truth be told." He added. The admission stunned her and she stopped eating to stare, wondering if there was more to the statement. Severus wasn't one to share details about himself, so this felt like a segue into something bigger. She was spot on in her assessment and wasn't disappointed to hear him continue.
"My mother used to make this dessert for me for the holidays when I was a boy. It just isn't Christmas without it."
Rune was shocked, nearly dropping her fork. She had thought he might share something with her but for it to be such a nostalgic and personal memory... she felt blessed and her mind raced to keep the dialogue open.
"Well, it's lovely." She laughed nervously, poking at the custard. "I'm surprised I've never heard of it."
"It's more popular in France, I believe. My mother wanted to go one day but we were too poor, so she learned some recipes. She would always find a way to make Holiday Blancmange around Christmas though. Even if she had to pick up extra work."
It had never occurred to her that Severus had come from a poor household. He held himself with such dignity and conversed so easily with the pureblood households that she assumed he must be from an affluent background. Though he was describing poverty, Rune still felt a little jealous.
"It sounds like a good tradition." Rune smiled bitterly. "I never had a Christmas tradition. My mother was always more focused on appearances than family memories. There was always a grand party that she invited all the pureblood families to and I was expected to dress up and look perfect and sit there until my butt went numb."
"Then why don't you make this a tradition?" Severus' suggestion took her off guard and brought her back from the memories of the crowded parties full of men who were too friendly, grabbing her bare skin while her mother peddled her like a purebred horse for sale.
"A tradition?" Her brow furrowed, trying to recall just what they were talking about. "The date with you?"
"No, the Holiday Blancmange. Why don't you eat it every year?" He smiled and her heart slammed against her chest. Surely by now he would notice how her eyes dilated every time he showed her the stunning expression, her focus stolen.
"You can just take my tradition and think of me."
A devastating line. Charming. Dangerous. All her resistance and reason were melting away, Rune forgetting to pull herself back to protect her heart.
His charm was so smooth that blood rushed to her face and she was forced to glance away, fumbling to grab her fork and have another bite.
"I always think of you anyways. Blancmange or not." She squeaked out, dying from embarrassment and high blood pressure. Spotting her cute mannerisms he watched her while she finished her treat, her lips trembling and her ears turning red, before he continued his charismatic assault.
"I have a Christmas present for you." The announcement broke her thoughts, the fork dropping from her hand and clattering to the plate. While she had got him something she never thought that he would do the same. Her eyes shot up, wide with disbelief.
"A present? For me?" As if words weren't enough, she pointed to her chest to make it abundantly clear that she was referring to herself.
Severus stood up, the corner of his lips twitching as he tried to hide his smile, and walked to an adjacent table where he retrieved a flat box. Gently he held it out to her, passing it into her small gloved hands.
"Careful. It's delicate."
"Delicate?" Blinking at his descriptor she stared at the medium sized box. It was cute, patterned with a botanic design, and tied with a green ribbon. In the ribbon he had placed a sprig of dittany.
"Aren't you going to open it?" Severus asked, covering his mouth so she couldn't see how he was losing his composure over her adorable responses. She blinked at him before nodding, pulling the dittany out and tucking it behind her ear. Careful not to wreck the wrapping too much, she pulled ribbon off before she gently wiggled the top of the box open.
Inside was a variety of cauldron cakes with another box nestled in the center. The scent of the cakes wafted to her nose, and she couldn't help the surprise she felt. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she didn't think it would be cauldron cakes.
"Look at the other box." He instructed, plucking it from the center and passing it to her. She placed the box of cakes in her lap to free her hands and took the little offering, sliding open the lid curiously. Inside were a pair of emerald earrings, navette cut and of a moderate size. They looked very familiar, and she tilted the box to watch the way they sparkled in the light, enamored with the deep green.
"Oh, they're lovely." Tears stung at her vision.
"The earrings or the cakes?" He joked.
"Both." Rune sniffled. "You remembered that I like cauldron cakes?"
"You said you were disappointed that you didn't get the sugarplum flavor, so I made a special order. I also asked them to create a few custom flavors for you." He watched her expression anxiously, unsure of what the tears meant.
"Thank you. And the earrings are lovely too." The color was so close to the Slytherin green that she knew they would match most of her clothing, and they were set in silver as well. Rune wondered how he afforded such large stones on the salary of a Professor.
"They are made with the emeralds from the hour glass in the front hall." It was such a casual thing for Severus to say but Rune paused, the implication of the words hitting her.
"I'm sorry?! The house point counter?!" Her jaw dropped. It was a priceless artifact. So priceless that only certain individuals were allowed to touch it. She had no idea how Snape would have been able to achieve getting earrings made from the emeralds inside. The whole counter had to be worth a fortune, each house hourglass full of ruby, topaz, emerald or sapphire.
"Dumbledore has a stash that he keeps for repairs. I just asked him if I could buy a few off of him." The way he shrugged off his achievement was wild to Rune who couldn't even process how much the earrings were actually worth.
""Sev, I'm not sure if I should wear something like this…" Nervous, she put the box on the table so she couldn't harm it.
"You are an important alumni to the Slytherin House, so of course you should wear Slytherin emeralds." Severus wasn't taking any of her anxious complaints.
"Come here. Let me put them on you." Severus stood up and ushered her over to his side, swiping the box from the table. She reluctantly agreed, standing up and and closing the distance.
His height completely dwarfed her small form. She pushed her hair back and closed her eyes, tilting her chin up so he could see her ears. Severus leaned forward, his breath tickling her cheek, as he carefully removed the pair she was wearing, placing them in the box, and threaded the hooks through her lobes. Once they were on she smiled at him, propping her right earring with the tip of her fingers and exposing her neck so he could see.
"How does it look?"
"They suit you." His lips curved in a pleased smile. Reading the moment she turned to her little clutch and grabbed her wand.
"I have a present for you too." Taking out the tiny box she cast a spell to return the size to it's original dimensions. "Engorgio!"
"A gift?" Severus blinked. "For me?"
"Who else?" Rune passed him the box, adorned in his house colors.
"You really got me something?" He stared the present with something like disbelief, his brows pulling together.
"You got me a present too. Is this really so shocking?" Rune tilted her head, the earrings flashing in the light.
"May I look?" Severus asked, a complex look on his face.
"Of course. By all means."
Nerves welled up in her stomach. She had no idea if he would like it. He seemed the sort not to have many material possessions so getting him anything was a gamble. Only a trained eye would notice the slight tremble of his hands as he pulled the silver ribbon and released the top of the box.
The quill was positioned inside and neatly tied down, the tip a becoming silver with a few extra nibs to the side to change it out. Her feather was just as shimmery as she was told, the plumage reflecting in the dim lighting like spun blue starlight. Next to it she had tucked some of the prettier flowers used for potions, the buds preserved with magic, for décor. The ink bottle was settled into the box, a little hole cut to ensure it didn't rattle about.
"Do you like it?" She asked, nervously nibbling on her lip. Severus ran a finger along the smooth barbs along the spine of the feather, his eyes wide.
"Is this… a raven feather?"
"Yes. I thought it was a lovely feather when I found it." She smiled, the little harmless fib slipping through her lips. Because her animagus form was still a secret she couldn't easily tell him the significance of it.
"You found the feather?" His brows shot up. "So this was custom made?"
"Of course. Your initials are even imprinted on the heel of the nib." She pointed to the base of the metal tip where 'S.S.' was clearly engraved. "I even had the ink custom mixed with a green under pigment for your official letters as the Head of House."
A silence eclipsed them as he looked at the quill, introspective.
"Do you like it?" She repeated, the nerves too much to bear.
"Very much." Severus assured her, putting the lid on the box and gently placing it on the table. "The feather reminds me of an old friend, truth be told."
Her heart quickened. It was so natural for her to want to share every part of herself that she hadn't realized the gift would have been a subtle hint. Severus was clever and cunning and would easily connect the dots if she let him do so.
"I thought I was your only old friend." She quipped back, trying to lighten the mood and change the subject.
"Are we friends?" He asked, grabbing her wrist and pulling her closer. Taken by surprise she gulped, her wide dark eyes staring up at him.
"If not friends, what are we?" Rune asked, her voice higher pitched than normal.
"I don't think friends have thoughts like I do." Severus admitted, leaning forward into her space.
"W-what sort of thoughts?" Now her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it in her ears. No matter what happened, the world could even fall away, she felt she couldn't look away from his deep stare.
Her question made him smirk, a devilishly handsome look, and he reached out, sliding his hand around the back of her thigh.
"You see, ever since I saw you wearing this dress, with as short as it is, I couldn't help but to imagine just how easy it would be to move these skirts aside." The naughty hand ran upwards, pushing her skirt out, and rested on the curve of her ass. She shivered.
"Sev!" She hissed, her knees going weak as he fell against him. "We are in public!"
"A kiss should be fine." Severus dipped his head and pecked her lips for an instant, leaving just a whisper between them as he continued to speak. "For now."
"We should at least cast a silencing charm." She suggested, glancing around for her wand. She would die from embarrassment if they were caught in a compromising position.
"Where's the fun in that?" He growled in a low voice by her ear, the vibrations of his voice traveling through her. She lost all resistance to him. In an instant he slammed their lips together, his hand gripping into her hair. And then he kissed her. Deeply. Intensely. So thoroughly that she was sure the sound of smacking could be discerned, and yet she still moaned into his mouth, unable to keep her silence.
Severus pulled on her hair, her head following his tug so that he could go deeper, nipping her lips and making it so she couldn't feel or think of anything but him. They stumbled back, colliding with the wall, as their teeth clashed. Rune gripped desperately to his clothes, receiving all his passion with abandon.
Finally they pulled apart, chests heaving. Rune's knees felt weak and she fell forward into his chest, her lips and jaw trembling and her stomach warm from her body's response to his kiss.
"Are you sure you don't want to continue?" He asked throatily.
"Sev!" Blushing a deeper shade, she hid her face. Truthfully she couldn't believe that she had just done that in a semi-public place, but she was also shocked that she allowed Severus to get so rough with her. Before when he was aggressive she began to have a negative reaction, but this time she forgot even to breath. Perhaps the variable was how much she loved him now.
Which was a fucking problem, if she was being honest with herself. Severus had not said anything to her about being exclusive or in love with her. The growing feelings were dangerous.
"Why don't we get back to the castle?" He asked, placing the now clean cloak over her shoulders again. It brought her back from her inner turmoil and she listened. "It's almost time for my night patrol. There won't be many students right now because of the Holidays, but there is bound to be a few that misbehave."
Rune hoped that after his duties he would swing by her room to continue their charged moment. Carefully she straightened her hair and clothing. And then glanced over to Severus. Her red lipstick had smudged onto his lips, leaving a mark on his pale skin.
"Oh. Hold on." Reaching out, she used her gloves to swipe at the mark until the red faded. His eyes flashed dangerously at the attention, as if he wanted to kiss her again. After making sure he was clean, and checking her reflection to clean up her own lipstick, she nodded.
"Alright." She gently picked up her box of pastries and old earrings and watched with satisfaction as he was sure to retrieve her gift as well.
"Oh! You two are done?" Rosmerta was wiping down the bar as they descended. She didn't seem to think anything was amiss, Rune managing to tidy herself up enough to hide their indecency.
"Thank you for letting us use the top floor." Rune smiled plastically, remembering her etiquette training.
"Anytime. You should stop by more often." The bar owner smiled at Rune, genuinely meaning it. As far as patrons went, Rune was polite and easy to handle.
"I'll do that. Happy Christmas, Rosie." Rune dipped her head politely before Severus looped his arm around her shoulder to lead her away.
As they walked back to the carriage Rune stopped dead in her tracks, the hair raising on the back of her neck. Her animal instincts, born of her raven form, were screaming at her that someone was there. She paused, scanning the silent, snowy village for anything amiss. It was late enough into the holiday evening that everyone was inside with their families and the street was abandoned, only the footprints of earlier travelers left in the snow. All the prints were rounded, getting filled with fresh snowfall.
But she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.
"Rune?" Snape asked, watching her with interest. He had gone ahead to open the door of the carriage and noticed she had fallen behind. "What is it?"
"It's… nothing." Rune frowned at the night before taking his hand to get into the carriage and ride back to Hogwarts.