Chapter Text
If Severus was asked to deck one more hall with boughs of holly, he was hexing someone.
Why was Christmas so important? The holiday was nothing more than an homage to materialism, another day where everyone celebrated that they weren’t as alone or forgotten as Severus Snape. Was it about the parties? There were events for that year round, not that he liked those any better. Was it the music? There were plenty of non-Christmas songs one could sing off-key while drinking far too much liquor. Why did there need to be fifty songs about jingling obnoxious bells?
If Minerva hadn’t made celebrating Christmas a condition upon her resigning her headmastership in order for him to resume the position, he would have banned the holiday in favor of a simple winter break where everyone celebrated being out of each other’s hair for a few weeks. Then again, one could argue he shouldn’t have resumed his duties as headmaster at all. For some foolish reason, though, he thought he could make more of a difference as a headmaster than he could running his own apothecary. As Minerva had so eloquently put it, someone needed to unify people after the war. Since she was too old to accomplish this task, a younger voice was needed.
Most days, Severus didn’t feel young. The lines on his face added decades to his appearance, and his hair wasn't getting any less greasy. Also, he was hiring people he taught, some more competent than others. He was becoming too old for this job...
Severus strode through the halls, scowling at the dancing, grinning snowmen. Then, his eyes fell on Hermione Granger placing a blown glass blue angel ornament onto a Christmas tree. Instead of her usual matron robes, she donned a fuzzy Christmas tree sweater. Her Muggle jeans added to her festive appearance. On anyone else the outfit would have appeared too casual to be appropriate for the workplace. On Hermione, though, it was more magical than any potion he’d ever brewed.
“Admit it, you like the tree.” Hermione didn’t look back, opting instead to grab a small, wooden blue bell and place it on a lower branch.
“I do not like this tree in the slightest.” He gave the most severe scowl he could.
“Sure, which is why you’re here admiring it.”
He tore his eyes away from the way her hair fell on her shoulders and onto the tree itself. “If I must tolerate this tree’s existence, I must inspect it to ensure it's acceptable. The last thing I want is an inferior tree in the most frequently visited place in Hogwarts.”
“Does it meet your specifications?” She turned around, her brown eyes aglow.
His chest filled with warmth, which he was certain was from a heating spell someone had cast, not from any affection he felt for the witch. “I suppose it is adequate enough.”
She chuckled. “Only you would find a Christmas tree adequate.”
“No, I am merely the only person honest enough to call a tree adequate.”
“Most people like Christmas trees.”
“That is surprising given how many pine needles must be picked up the day after Christmas. You would think people would want a cleaner decoration.”
“Yes, well,” she turned around. Her eyes grew as she spotted her orange half-kneazle pawing at the ornaments on the lowest branches. “Crookshanks, no! Don’t play with that!”
Severus smirked as the orange cat batted a yellow star ornament downwards, his eyes glistening in the tree lights. “At least someone is getting enjoyment out of this nonsensical holiday.”
“You’d get plenty of joy out of this holiday if you would allow yourself to behave as if you had a soul.” She picked up Crookshanks and moved him away from the tree.
“I have no soul.”
"That isn't true."
"I am certain that it is."
“If you didn't have a soul, you would not have stayed up almost all night helping me through my breakup with Cormac.” Hermione scooted Crookshanks away from the tree.
“That was a simple case of boredom and insomnia.”
“You were very good to me for being a bored insomniac.”
“Careful, Hermione." His lips curled upwards. "If you keep talking like that, people will think you’ve gone round the bend.”
“I suppose we can’t have that, can we?” She dragged Crookshanks away from the tree. “Could you please do me a favor, take him to your quarters, and give him a piece of chicken?”
“What makes you think I would give him my dinner?”
“Because every time he runs to your quarters, he’s too full for his cat food.” She placed Crookshanks in Severus’ unwilling arms. "He's getting food from somewhere."
“That doesn’t prove that I gave him anything.”
“He wouldn’t keep returning to your quarters if there was no chicken.”
The feline meowed before settling himself in the headmaster’s arms.
“You know the only reason I tolerate him on the premises is because he’s a good mouser,” he argued.
“Crookshanks loves you too.” She returned to decorating the tree.
The feline met his eyes and let out a manipulative meow. Severus frowned. This expression should annoy him and make him want to dump the cat outside where he could play in the falling snow. Still, his quarters were getting chilly, and he could use a lap warmer. Not that he’d ever admit such a thing aloud. As far as anyone was concerned, he only fed Crookshanks when he wanted to reward him for catching a mouse and ignored him until he needed to scold the feline for jumping on his desk and scattering his valuable papers about.
“Come, let’s leave your owner in peace before you destroy the Great Hall and Minerva forces me to replace the ornaments you’ve shattered.” He began walking away.
“Thank you.” Hermione grinned. “I appreciate the help.”
He turned around. “You do know that this decorating nonsense stops the second a student is in need of medical assistance.”
“I know.” Her voice lowered. “Trust me, I know how important my job is.”
"It's very important."
"You seem to be the only one who acknowledges that.
Severus raised an eyebrow at her tone, only for Crookshanks to begin rubbing his neck, leaving orange fur everywhere. Scowling, he continued walking away. “So help me if you get orange hair all over my robes. I will never give you a piece of meat again if they are too fur-filled for my meeting with the donors in two hours.”
Crookshanks huffed before rubbing him again.
“You are utterly ridiculous,” Severus muttered as he strolled down the hallway, smiling angels and joyful snowmen grinning down on him.
This was going to be a long and tedious holiday season.
***
“So, all I need to do is put four drops of this potion in his drink, and he will be mine forever?” Professor Sybil Trelawney held the green vial in her hands, her eyes as wide as two snowballs.
“He will,” George grinned as he leaned against the chipped, wooden counter. Surrounding him were jars of multi-colored balls and Santas mooning all who entered. “Once he takes a sip of that, he won’t be able to stop drinking it. Once he finishes that drink, he’s as good as yours.”
Sybil looked at him. “And this isn’t a love potion, which would inhibit his free will?”
“No, I promise you that it will have no effect on his free will,” he replied. “The one you desire will come to you quite willingly after drinking that potion, even if it is somewhat out of desperation.”
Her stomach sank. “What kind of desperation?”
“The kind of desperation where he needs a kiss to rid himself of a problem.” George flinched before rubbing the area where his left ear had once been.
“He isn’t going to be physically hurt, is he?” She gulped.
“Not at all.” George waved his hand. “He will be in no pain, but he will need to be kissed, something he will realize within a few hours.”
“A few hours?”
“The potion isn’t instantaneous. That is its own weakness.”
“I see.”
“Still, after a few hours, he will realize he needs a kiss to get out of his predicament.”
“And it won’t inhibit his free will?”
“I swear on Fred’s grave that it will not directly affect his free will.”
Sybil glanced at the potion again. “I’ve wanted him for years now, needed him in my life for decades. Yet he ignores me.” Her face turned red. “He ignores me and treats me like a joke. All he does is dismiss my prophecies and roll his eyes at me. If he saw who I was, he would behave much more differently. I know he’d fall for me if he’d just give me a chance!”
“Why do you want a man like that in your life again?”
“Because I know who he is. He’s courageous, witty, and sometimes kind, when he feels like it.”
“And you want him more than anything?”
She nodded.
“Then do we have a deal?” George held out his hand.
Professor Trelawney glanced at the potion, then back at him. “It would be nice not to spend Christmas alone. For years, I’ve yearned to spend it in his arms. I’ve seen us together so many times in my dreams. He whispers words of love to me. I’m the most ecstatic woman on earth.”
“Then it’s time to act. Don’t just see the future. Make it happen."
“Okay.” She took a deep breath before the fire returned to her eyes. “I can’t foresee anything going wrong. I would have had a vision if anything were to go sideways.”
“I’m sure you would have.” George twisted his lips.
“Thank you.” She took his hand and shook it. “You’ve just made my Christmas the most wonderful one imaginable. I will be forever grateful for your assistance.”
“I live to make others happy.” George’s grip was firm as he shook her hand. “Now, let’s go ahead and ring you up.”
“Good, except.” She released his hand before blinking. “How do I give it to him without him being suspicious?”
“Just put it in his drink. That’s what I’d do.”
“I know,” she hissed. “But how do I ensure he drinks this? He doesn’t exactly accept tea from me. Hell, he won’t even let me into his office for a spot of tea.”
“Are there any house-elves willing to do your bidding, ones that could be quiet for a sip of sherry?”
“There’s Winky. She and I share wine sometimes. I could swear her to secrecy in exchange for a couple of bottles.”
“Then you have a great plan.”
“That I do.” The smile returned to her face as she set the potion down on the table. Then, she began pulling out coins. “Thank you again. It is so frustrating for him not to see what’s right in front of him. Still, I’m sure with this potion, he will come to see what I already do: that we were always meant to be together!”
“I’m sure he will.” George rang up the price on his register as he sneered. “I'm absolutely sure he will."