Author:bonfoi Rating: G Pairing: Remus Lupin, Severus Snape Summary: Given the chore of collecting mistletoe for Christmas decorations, Lupin and Snape come across something interesting. Challenge:adventdrabblesPrompt #1: Mistletoe Word Count: 350 Genre: Alternate Universe; EWE; Pre-slash; Adventure; Romance Warnings: None A/N: My first time dipping into the adventdrabbles pool. Here’s hoping I’ve got at least twenty-four more bits and bobs to go!
Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter, its characters and settings are the copyrighted works of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., her publishing companies and affiliates. No profit was made from the writing of this story nor was any malice intended in any way, shape or form to the author or the actors/actresses who so brilliantly have brought them to life.
This author is not responsible for underage readers. Please observe the ratings, warnings, and age of legal consent for your country.
“On the first day of ‘Cember, my true love gave to me, one perfect potion…”
“Lupin, if you mutilate that song with one more twisted lyric, I’ll feed you mistletoe berries until your furry problem turns red and sprouts waxy leaves in his tail!” Severus Snape snarled. Granted, he couldn’t fault Lupin for breaking into song, but that song had been his mother’s favorite and no one was going to murder it within his hearing. Not that he’d tell Lupin anything of the sort! Severus stomped on, through a wonderfully bright and pristine forest glade, the snow barely overtopping his boots as they hunted for mistletoe for the first Christmas after Voldemort’s official demise.
Severus fussed with his Slytherin green and silver scarf, tugging it up higher over his ears and cheeks. He knew he was trying to hide the blush on his cheeks, and he knew Lupin knew it as well, but…
“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree…”
At Severus’ back, Remus Lupin sang the song properly, a pleasant tenor that dipped into the upper bass registers. They walked though the Forbidden Forest, wrapped in Lupin’s singing and Severus’ warming charms. Nothing stirred that shouldn’t, and the shadows were just that…shadows of bare branches flowing over a light dusting of snow.
As Lupin got to the five golden rings, Severus put his hand up, a strange scent tickling his nose. Remus swallowed his falsetto with a grimace and stepped closer, his wand tip just peeking out of his sleeve, across his palm. “What?” he breathed out.
Severus sniffed and turned his head. Remus raised his head and drew in a deep breath as well. “Smell that?” Severus asked softly.
“Yeah…about a forty yards to the north. Fresh by the potency of it.” Remus’ wand slipped fully into his hand. “I’ll take point. You keep back about ten feet.” He slid by Severus, suddenly the predator Snape always knew lurked inside: his gait was barely audible as he stepped across the dry grass, crisp snow, and broken branches.