Author:bonfoi Rating: G Pairing: Remus Lupin/Severus Snape, Gideon Prewett, Fabian Prewett Summary: Given the chore of collecting mistletoe for Christmas decorations, Lupin and Snape come across something interesting. Challenge:adventdrabblesPrompt #27: Tinsel Word Count: 555 Genre: Alternate Universe; EWE; Slash; Adventure; Romance; Myth Warnings: none A/N: A bridge, but a necessary one. Happy Holidays!
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.
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Moony nudged the small creature curled up in the snow with his nose. It smelled like his human, but it was awfully small to be the human. He licked a swathe across the smooth head, his rough tongue twining around the small head and neck.
Currycombe bent over and plucked the creature from the snow, carefully. Moony watched closely as the human-smelling-creature lay bonelessly in the Sugar Plum Fairy’s arms. He whined and Gideon trotted close enough to pet him.
“It’s all right, Moony. Your mate’s gift just took a bit of the starch out of him.” Gideon looked over at Currycombe. “Ain’t that so, Currycombe?”
“Oh, um, aye.” Currycombe’s hands glowed golden again and Moony gave a low growl. “Honest, Wolf, it’s what should be, not what’s bad. Your Darkling is a very powerful wizard so it will take some time for the gift to settle.”
The hooves on the roof skittered on the slate roof and a disembodied voice shouted from over their heads. “Time to go, boys! Ho, ho, ho!”
Fabian knelt down and hugged Moony, reviving the acorn collar around his neck. “Good to see you’ve come so far, mate,” he whispered. “Take care of yourself and Snape, eh?” One last clinch and Fabian was up and away, floating up to the stable roof in a shower of tinsel that vanished as it touched the snowy ground.
Gideon stamped his hooves and grinned down at Moony and then over at the painting crowded with Albus, Phineas, and Jamie. “You three keep these two in line for us, and make certain they laugh, hey?” His grin was infectious and even Phineas deigned to let a small smirk unfurl. “See you all in a few years!” He too floated upward to the stable roof, a startled squawk coming in the same disembodied voice. A cloud of tinsel fell over the eaves and plopped into a snowdrift and then puffed away in a silvery fog.
“A centaur?! Only you two would make me expand the sleigh this way!”
Moony barked and pranced around the Sugar Plum Fairy, trying to get to the creature that smells like his human. “Hey, now! Just because this was my first wish-granting you don’t get to scratch the fairy!” Currycombe whined.
Albus shouted, “Bring him inside and put him on the worktable, where Remus can see him!”
Jamie got his first clear look at Severus’ new form and crowed. “Oh, aye, that’s a proper form for a spy and a protector! He’ll be right proud of it, will Severus.”
Phineas crossed his arms and gazed critically at Severus’ furry self. “Well, a Slytherin would find this form greatly useful. Many would deem it innocuous.” The former headmaster smirked widely. “Yes, Professor Snape will be pleased with his new form.”
The creature on the worktable stirred as the sleigh on the stable roof took off with barely a clatter of hooves and few complaints of He’s touching me! and Are we there yet?” Its whiskers quivered, its ears turned searching for noises, and its claws extended and then partially retracted, scratching the wooden worktable top. Moony’s snout was at the edge of the worktable, sniffing and snuffling.
Severus’ new eyes opened and Currycombe grinned. “It worked!” he sighed. “See, he’s got a silvery ring around his eyes. Just like tinsel.”