mrscake (mrscake) wrote in lupin_snape, @ 2009-08-14 23:19:00 |
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Current mood: | melancholy |
Title: A Hogwarts Christmas Carol.
Author: MrsCake_akaJane
Rating: PG
Pairing: Lupin/Snape
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: I claim no rights to the characters, just the situations in which I'm placing them.
Summary: The first Christmas after the war. Snape is his usual bastard self, but the powers that be decide that it must stop now. They will use every power they can to make the dour man see sense. What will Snape see through the eyes of the spirits?
http://www.fanfiction.net/~mrscakeakaja
Chapter Nine – Christmas Evening
At Seven o’clock the hall was once again filled with laughter. Severus stopped outside the hall, remembering when he had been brought to this very spot. Opening the door Severus took a look inside and found everyone was chatting animatedly, all wearing their party cloths. Lupin unfortunately was nowhere in sight.
Severus spun around and headed to the balcony he knew Lupin was going to be.
“Why aren’t you in with the rest of the party wolf man?” he asked leaning against the wall.
Lupin’s head snapped up, “I was just getting some air.”
“Well come along, you can howl at the moon later,” Severus pulled Lupin to his feet.
“I don’t howl at the moon Severus.” Lupin replied with a laugh.
“Then you’re not doing it right,” whispered Severus, forgetting Lupin’s enhanced hearing.
Lupin walked ahead towards the great hall, lost in his own thoughts.
Back in the great hall the party was in full swing. No one had even noticed them enter. Severus looked over the crowd to see Draco and Harry wrapped around each other in a slow dance, with Dudley and Luna nearby. Turning back to Lupin he saw the man was staring at him.
“What are you staring at man?” Severus asked self-consciously.
“You’re not warring black.” Lupin commented, sounding slightly awed.
“Well done, here’s me thinking you were colour blind.”
“No, that’s dogs. I’d just never thought I’d see you in any other colour.” Lupin stated looking at Severus appraisingly.
Severus’s robes were a deep midnight blue with silver patterns at the hem, cuffs and neckline.
“Do you approve?” Asked Severus tentatively.
“Very much so,” Lupin blushed. “Shall we get a drink?”
“Yes, lets.” Severus smiled.
With drinks in hand they sat at a table to watch the dancers.
“I have a gift for you,” Severus blurted unexpectedly.
“For me, really? Actually, I have one for you too.” Remus admitted blushing lightly.
Both men smiled sheepishly and swapped packages. Severus opened his carefully, aware Lupin was watching him. Inside he found a book, an old, beautifully kept book. Picking it up carefully Severus looked at the title, ‘A Christmas Carol’, Severus’s face split into a grin.
“It’s a first addition. I don’t know why but when I saw it I knew I had to get it for you,” Lupin explained in a rushed.
“It’s perfect. You have no idea how perfect.” At Lupin’s inquiring glance he added. “I’ll tell you later. Open yours.”
Lupin looked down at his gift and read the card, which said simply,
Secret Santa.
“Severus, your Secret Santa?” Lupin asked more impressed than surprised.
“Yes,” was the man’s simple reply.
“I should have known, the way you write the S’s.” Lupin replied, a smile teasing the corners of his lips.
“Are you going to open that or are you going to stare at it all night?” Teased Severus
‘I think I’m just going to stare at it,’ Lupin grinned before he ripped into the paper and opened the box inside. “Oh Severus, It’s beautiful. It’s not silver is it?”
“Don’t be stupid Wolfman, it’s Platinum. Here let me put it on for you.” Severus pulled Remus to his feet and standing behind him fastened the pendent around his neck.
Remus looked down at the pendent around his neck, it showed a griffin standing proudly with one paw raised and wrapped around its body, with its head resting on the griffin’s shoulder, was a snake.
Severus turned Remus around to look at him when the next song started.
“They are playing our song Remus.” Severus led Remus to the dance floor as ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ started to play.
“You remembered?” Asked Remus.
“I’ve remembered,” confirmed Severus.
Neither man was aware that all other couples had stopped dancing to watch them, open mouthed. They only had eyes for each other. When the song ended Severus didn’t release his partner, instead he lowered his head and caught Remus’ lips in a soul searing kiss.
When the hall erupted into cheers both men jumped having forgotten they were not alone. “Shall we dance again?” Asked Severus, when Remus nodded Severus cast a wandless spell and a new song started, ‘Blue Moon.’
Luna who was standing with the others nearby smiled and asked. “Did you know, couples who dance under a blue moon are fated to be together forever?”
Dudley held his hand out to the pretty blond witch. “Shall we dance for the blue moon then?” Luna blushed and took his hand.
Luna did have a habit of talking rubbish, but you never did know. Soon plucking up their courage Fred led Angelina to the dance floor, followed by Draco and Harry, Ron and Hermione, George and Katie and a very happy looking Neville and Ginny.
Later in the evening when more traditional music took over Remus started to teach the younger couples to waltz. Snape offered his hand to Minerva. “May I have this dance?”
“I’d love to.” The older witch smiled up at him.
For a woman of her age Minerva was very light on her feet, they moved effortlessly around the dance floor.
“I’m glad to see you happy Severus. And if Albus were here, he’d be thrilled too. I promised myself I’d see you happy before I left.”
“Minerva, for the first time in more years than I can count, I’ve celebrated Christmas, I have a reason to now. I’ve found out the man I’ve loved for three decades love’s me back, and at the risk of sounding like one of your Gryffindors, that’s all I need, I’m very happy.”
The song ended and Severus led Minerva back to her seat, before being accosted by Remus to help him demonstrate the tango. Severus pulled Remus up out of the last dip to the applause of the crowd. Severus smiled down at a blushing Remus, but as he looked across the room he stilled, the smile dropped off his face. He saw Minerva slumped slightly in her chair, still smiling.
A new song started. ‘The last Waltz’, the crowd gasped as the wispy figures of Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall waltzed together.
In his best commanding voice Severus instructed, “Everyone join in, for the final dance.” Severus and Remus joined in first, from the corner of his eye Severus saw Lily and James dancing too, much to everyone’s shock. Near the door of the hall stood the ghostly figures of Sirius and Lucius.
“Look over there Remus.” Severus said softly, turning Remus to look.
Remus looked over in time to see a sheepish Sirius Black ask Lucius Malfoy to dance and leading him, and a much reduced chain to the floor. They both whispered something to Harry and Draco before they too started dancing.
When the last of the music faded so did the spirits. There was no crying for Professor McGonagall, everyone knew she was happy in the arms of her true love again.
“You knew about the spirits didn’t you?” Draco asked as they left the hall.
“I did.” Severus nodded looking at his godsons.
“Will you tell us how?” Harry asked taking hold of Draco’s hand.
Severus smiled, and looked at the gift Remus had given him. “I’ll tell you next Christmas.” Taking Remus’ hand, he led him to the dungeons.