Author:bonfoi Rating: G Pairing: Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Gideon Prewett Summary: Given the chore of collecting mistletoe for Christmas decorations, Lupin and Snape come across something interesting. Challenge:adventdrabblesPrompt #11: Sleigh Bells Word Count: 551 Genre: Alternate Universe; EWE; Pre-slash; Adventure; Romance Warnings: none A/N: I hope my twist on the prompt works! *fingers crossed* My apologies to snapesgirl and torino10154 for losing their comments when I removed the duplicate post for 10 December. The 11th of December post is dedicated to you two.
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.
Severus blinked twice and licked his lips after their kiss. “Took you long enough, Lupin,” he muttered.
“I would have caught you under the kissing ball we made from all that mistletoe if this had been a regular day,” Remus said with a smile. He pushed a lock of hair away from Severus’ cheek with gentle fingers. “But seeing you now, this side of you, I had to let you know how I felt.”
Gideon chose that moment to groan and open bleary eyes. “Anyone get the name of that hippogryph that mauled me?” he rasped out. Severus caught Remus’ eyes, willing him to understand that they would return to that kiss later. Currycombe snuffled awake and then hugged the centaur’s shoulders with a cry.
Severus spoke slowly and distinctly, “Don’t move…Gideon. The curse has been relieved, but not stripped from your bones. I’ve got to make a potion specific to your physiognomy, but you’ll do for now.” Currycombe loosened his hold on Gideon and looked between Severus and Remus.
“Listen to Darkling. He has brains,” the porlock stated with a sage nod of his head.
Gideon chuckled weakly and Currycombe helped him lie back down. “You’re the healer, Snape. Just give me a cover and I’ll do nicely.” The centaur wriggled into the straw a bit and sighed, falling into a healing sleep easily.
“Accio blanket!” Severus said, wand making a figure-eight in the air. Soon, a brightly colored horse-blanket flew into the stall. Remus caught it and Currycombe helped him cover Gideon’s torso and back. “That should keep him warm while I get back to the dungeons and brew the proper potion.” Severus stood up, brushing stray straw pieces from his knees.
“Currycombe stays with Giddy.” The porlock shivered a bit and Remus was surprised when Severus grasped a corner of the blanket, cut it neatly with a silent spell, and Transfigured it into a larger one for Currycombe.
“This is for you, Currycombe. Remus will put a warming charm on it as well.”
Remus cast the charm with a smile for the porlock and a wink at Severus. “Do you need anything, Currycombe? I can have a house-elf pop in in a few hours. They can bring you mulled cider or something else.”
“Cider is good. Cup of oats, too.” Currycombe snuggled into his blanket and then returned to his nest in the straw. “Night falls. Darkling and Wolf need their stall, too.”
“C’mon, Severus, let’s let them rest while I walk you back to the dungeons.” Remus grabbed Severus’ hand and walked him out of the stall, bumping a string of bells, sleigh bells by the sound of it.
“Bells are the voices of peaceful spirits. Did you know that, Lupin?” Severus said softly. He ran his fingers up and down the sleigh bells, their soft chiming somehow warmer from his touch. “I always wanted a moonlight ride in a sleigh…”
Remus pulled Severus into a loose embrace. “I think I still remember how to guide a horse in a sleigh’s traces. What say I take you later, when we’ve settled Gideon’s problem?” Remus removed one arm and held a small bough of mistletoe over their heads. “Now, may I steal a kiss from you?”
Severus smirked and held up his own mistletoe. “What say we trade?”