A Charming Christmas
Hello, I wonder if you'd all mind having a look at this? I am very keen to develop my writing skills, and would welcome any advice you could give me. I haven't written a lot, but out of what I have written I rather like this - and would be grateful for any suggestions as to how I can make it better (plus, pimping your work to a wider audience is never a bad thing, right?!)
Title: A Charming Christmas
Author: blackmoonruby
Pairing: A hint of Lupin/Snape
Era: MWPP Sixth Year
Genre: Fluff
Summary: Severus discovers that maybe Christmas isn’t so bad after all
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, I just let 'em have the fun that JK won't!
A/N: This is my response to the Immeritus Christmas Crossover Challenge. Based on tapedeck’s picture, Hello Girls.
I couldn’t help noticing that it’s not mistletoe he’s holding…
Severus Snape stalked the corridors of Hogwarts looking even more grim than usual. He stomped about with his head down; aggression oozing from every pore. He seemed to have developed a pathological inability to look anyone in the eye. Christmas was coming and Snape was not happy. Of course, it was rare that he was happy, he was currently even less happy than usual. Christmas on its own was bad enough, but this year was worse than usual as he was victim of a monumental prank.
If he were asked, Severus would have said that a prankster would have to get out of bed very early in the morning to get one over on him. It seemed that this particular prankster had got up so early in the morning that it was still the night before, as Severus had been well and truly caught.
To the untrained eye there was little that was different about Snape, as he stormed about the school. A careful observer (although, admittedly, there were not many of those directing their gaze in this particular direction) would notice the awkward way in which he held his right hand, almost as if he were protecting something. Something that, from the occasional frown or wince that passed across his face, must be somewhat…prickly?
Damn them, Snape thought as he made his way to the Library. Damn them to the moon and back. Whoever had done this couldn’t even get it right! He did not know who was responsible for the stunt, but he had to admit that whoever it was, they were bloody skilful. He hissed as the tender palm of his hand was pricked yet again. Looking around, he noticed that the corridor was empty, so he brought his hand forward and opened it out.
In the palm of his hand lay a small sprig of holly. It had been attached to his thumb and forefinger using a comprehensive Sticking Charm. Despite his best efforts, he had not been able to remove it, so he was forced to cup it in his hand, palm backwards, in an attempt to hide it from public view and thus prevent him from appearing to have gone completely raving mad.
While the Sticking Charm itself was impressive, that was not the only problem. Oh no, whoever was responsible was far more wicked than that. Severus did not have the first clue how it worked, all he knew was that if he-
Too late, Severus noticed the group of girls walking towards him. It was that bunch of fifth-year Hufflepuffs with the mistletoe wreaths seemingly permanently affixed to their heads. They were all pretty enough, but the looks of steely determination on their faces as they prowled the corridor in search of victims was enough to strike fear into the hearts of every male in the school. (Every male that is, except Potter and Black, who seemed to bump into them surprisingly often, given the size of the castle.) As he moved to hide the holly his gaze momentarily caught that of one of the girls.
Oh Merlin’s armpit, not again! He barely noticed the predatory expressions sliding from their faces as they registered his identity.
Severus felt his arm move of its own accord. His heart sank to his boots. He had learnt the hard way that resisting was futile, it simply made him look as if he were having some kind of fit. Blushing madly, he felt his hand opening to reveal the holly as his arm raised itself above his head. Meanwhile, his feet were propelling him towards the stunned girl while his lips were pooching out as if pulled by an invisible cord.
Why me? thought Severus miserably as he awaited the inevitable. He watched from downcast eyes the chain of emotions flitting across the girl’s face. Confusion first, followed by comprehension and finally wide-eyed, teeth bared revulsion.
‘I don’t think so, you disgusting creep!’ she exclaimed as she violently shoved Severus away. She and her friends were sniggering as they walked away, and Severus caught their dismissive voices as they passed.
‘…fancy the slimy git thinking you’d kiss him!’
‘…doesn’t the moron even know it’s mistletoe for snogging, not holly?’
‘Of course he won’t, he’s never been kissed!’
‘Never likely to be either, the pathetic greasy prat!’
I know it’s mistletoe, thought Severus numbly. I’ve been told eighty-three times in the past four days that it’s mistletoe. He yearned for the ground to swallow him and once again, he cursed whoever had done this to him. He had read almost every text the Library had to offer in his attempt to lift the charm, but all he had discovered was a vaguely half-formed theory that if he were to kiss the person who had cast the spell it would be broken. This was summarily dismissed. There were over 1000 people in the school, and Severus had absolutely no intention of throwing himself at all of them on the off-chance. No, he would sit it out. It could not last forever. At least there were only three days left until the end of term. The spell had to end then, it just had to. There was no way he could face his Great Aunts Hepzibah and Nathaniel like this. Their moustaches would suffocate him!
Severus groaned aloud and continued on his way. Maybe today’s studying would yield the answer. As he passed through the corridors he had two more near-misses, and one that was not a miss at all, resulting in a resounding slap on the cheek and a knee in the family jewels. His holly had only provided him with one willing kiss, but unfortunately that was from a fourth-year Ravenclaw with a lisp, a tendency for frilly shirts and an affinity for a shade of lipstick that really did not suit him. Only after he’d eaten a bar of soap did Severus recover from that encounter.
As he approached the Library his heart sank. Potter and his cronies were pushing and shoving each other along the corridor towards him. Severus sighed heavily, put his head down and sped up, hoping to reach sanctuary before the Gryffindors reached him. He peered at them from the corner of his eye. Pettigrew - such a pathetic hanger-on; Black - arrogant, aristocratic and a total arse; Potter himself - egotistical and idiotic; and Lupin. Lupin was different. A small part of Severus piped up that he was a bit jealous that they were such good friends with Lupin, that Severus himself would like to get to know him better. Snape firmly squashed it.
He had one hand on the Library door and had started to release the breath that he had not realised he had been holding when it happened. An almighty shove sent him spread-eagled on the floor. He sucked in a breath as he landed on his right hand and felt another fourteen prickles in his tender palm.
‘So, Snivelly, where are you scurrying off to now?’ Potter sneered.
‘Scuttling about the corridors like an unwashed rat,’ jeered Sirius. For some reason this made Pettigrew snigger convulsively. Stupid boy.
‘What’s he hiding in his hand, Prongsie?’ Sirius asked conversationally.
‘I don’t know, Pads, let’s have a look, shall we?’ and the two of them crouched down and prised open Severus’ hand. Severus had his eyes clamped tightly shut, with his left hand over them as an extra precaution. He knew it made him vulnerable, but he was taking no chances.
‘Holly? Why in Merlin’s name is he carrying holly?’ The confusion was genuine. Severus raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t them? Who could it be, then? He tuned out the asinine bleatings of Potter and Black as he racked his brains to think who may be responsible.
‘Leave him alone.’ The low, firm voice startled Severus, and his hand slipped from his eyes.
‘Moony, wha-?’ It seemed that Potter and Black were equally bewildered. ‘But he’s a git, Moony, a great snivelly git! Why on earth should we leave him alone?’
‘Because, Sirius, we are late for Care of Magical Creatures. You are already under threat of detention, and I am merely attempting to ensure that you arrive with more than half the lesson remaining,’ replied Lupin, calmly.
‘Bugger me, so we are,’ grumbled Potter. ‘Oh well, never mind. There’ll be other times.’
Snape scrambled to his feet. In doing so, he let his guard slip. His eyes opened a chink, and there was Remus Lupin, looking coolly at him.
Oh please, no. Not now. Not him. Severus keened gently to himself as his arm made its inexorable rise and his feet moved him closer to Lupin. He felt the blush rise in his cheeks as he heard Potter and Black spluttering behind him. Closing his eyes and bracing himself for a blow and for endless ridicule he was shocked beyond measure to feel a pair of soft lips gently brushing his own.
He stood, gawping as Lupin calmly chivvied a still-spluttering Black and Potter to their lesson. Pettigrew trailed behind, jaw dragging on the floor. Severus jiggled his fingers in his ears. Surely he had not heard a whispered, ‘Merry Christmas, Severus,’ as Lupin passed him?
Severus pulled himself together and pushed open the door of the Library, barely registering the holly falling from his fingers. Smiling to himself, he thought that maybe Christmas wasn’t so bad, after all.
Title: A Charming Christmas
Author: blackmoonruby
Pairing: A hint of Lupin/Snape
Era: MWPP Sixth Year
Genre: Fluff
Summary: Severus discovers that maybe Christmas isn’t so bad after all
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, I just let 'em have the fun that JK won't!
A/N: This is my response to the Immeritus Christmas Crossover Challenge. Based on tapedeck’s picture, Hello Girls.
I couldn’t help noticing that it’s not mistletoe he’s holding…
Severus Snape stalked the corridors of Hogwarts looking even more grim than usual. He stomped about with his head down; aggression oozing from every pore. He seemed to have developed a pathological inability to look anyone in the eye. Christmas was coming and Snape was not happy. Of course, it was rare that he was happy, he was currently even less happy than usual. Christmas on its own was bad enough, but this year was worse than usual as he was victim of a monumental prank.
If he were asked, Severus would have said that a prankster would have to get out of bed very early in the morning to get one over on him. It seemed that this particular prankster had got up so early in the morning that it was still the night before, as Severus had been well and truly caught.
To the untrained eye there was little that was different about Snape, as he stormed about the school. A careful observer (although, admittedly, there were not many of those directing their gaze in this particular direction) would notice the awkward way in which he held his right hand, almost as if he were protecting something. Something that, from the occasional frown or wince that passed across his face, must be somewhat…prickly?
Damn them, Snape thought as he made his way to the Library. Damn them to the moon and back. Whoever had done this couldn’t even get it right! He did not know who was responsible for the stunt, but he had to admit that whoever it was, they were bloody skilful. He hissed as the tender palm of his hand was pricked yet again. Looking around, he noticed that the corridor was empty, so he brought his hand forward and opened it out.
In the palm of his hand lay a small sprig of holly. It had been attached to his thumb and forefinger using a comprehensive Sticking Charm. Despite his best efforts, he had not been able to remove it, so he was forced to cup it in his hand, palm backwards, in an attempt to hide it from public view and thus prevent him from appearing to have gone completely raving mad.
While the Sticking Charm itself was impressive, that was not the only problem. Oh no, whoever was responsible was far more wicked than that. Severus did not have the first clue how it worked, all he knew was that if he-
Too late, Severus noticed the group of girls walking towards him. It was that bunch of fifth-year Hufflepuffs with the mistletoe wreaths seemingly permanently affixed to their heads. They were all pretty enough, but the looks of steely determination on their faces as they prowled the corridor in search of victims was enough to strike fear into the hearts of every male in the school. (Every male that is, except Potter and Black, who seemed to bump into them surprisingly often, given the size of the castle.) As he moved to hide the holly his gaze momentarily caught that of one of the girls.
Oh Merlin’s armpit, not again! He barely noticed the predatory expressions sliding from their faces as they registered his identity.
Severus felt his arm move of its own accord. His heart sank to his boots. He had learnt the hard way that resisting was futile, it simply made him look as if he were having some kind of fit. Blushing madly, he felt his hand opening to reveal the holly as his arm raised itself above his head. Meanwhile, his feet were propelling him towards the stunned girl while his lips were pooching out as if pulled by an invisible cord.
Why me? thought Severus miserably as he awaited the inevitable. He watched from downcast eyes the chain of emotions flitting across the girl’s face. Confusion first, followed by comprehension and finally wide-eyed, teeth bared revulsion.
‘I don’t think so, you disgusting creep!’ she exclaimed as she violently shoved Severus away. She and her friends were sniggering as they walked away, and Severus caught their dismissive voices as they passed.
‘…fancy the slimy git thinking you’d kiss him!’
‘…doesn’t the moron even know it’s mistletoe for snogging, not holly?’
‘Of course he won’t, he’s never been kissed!’
‘Never likely to be either, the pathetic greasy prat!’
I know it’s mistletoe, thought Severus numbly. I’ve been told eighty-three times in the past four days that it’s mistletoe. He yearned for the ground to swallow him and once again, he cursed whoever had done this to him. He had read almost every text the Library had to offer in his attempt to lift the charm, but all he had discovered was a vaguely half-formed theory that if he were to kiss the person who had cast the spell it would be broken. This was summarily dismissed. There were over 1000 people in the school, and Severus had absolutely no intention of throwing himself at all of them on the off-chance. No, he would sit it out. It could not last forever. At least there were only three days left until the end of term. The spell had to end then, it just had to. There was no way he could face his Great Aunts Hepzibah and Nathaniel like this. Their moustaches would suffocate him!
Severus groaned aloud and continued on his way. Maybe today’s studying would yield the answer. As he passed through the corridors he had two more near-misses, and one that was not a miss at all, resulting in a resounding slap on the cheek and a knee in the family jewels. His holly had only provided him with one willing kiss, but unfortunately that was from a fourth-year Ravenclaw with a lisp, a tendency for frilly shirts and an affinity for a shade of lipstick that really did not suit him. Only after he’d eaten a bar of soap did Severus recover from that encounter.
As he approached the Library his heart sank. Potter and his cronies were pushing and shoving each other along the corridor towards him. Severus sighed heavily, put his head down and sped up, hoping to reach sanctuary before the Gryffindors reached him. He peered at them from the corner of his eye. Pettigrew - such a pathetic hanger-on; Black - arrogant, aristocratic and a total arse; Potter himself - egotistical and idiotic; and Lupin. Lupin was different. A small part of Severus piped up that he was a bit jealous that they were such good friends with Lupin, that Severus himself would like to get to know him better. Snape firmly squashed it.
He had one hand on the Library door and had started to release the breath that he had not realised he had been holding when it happened. An almighty shove sent him spread-eagled on the floor. He sucked in a breath as he landed on his right hand and felt another fourteen prickles in his tender palm.
‘So, Snivelly, where are you scurrying off to now?’ Potter sneered.
‘Scuttling about the corridors like an unwashed rat,’ jeered Sirius. For some reason this made Pettigrew snigger convulsively. Stupid boy.
‘What’s he hiding in his hand, Prongsie?’ Sirius asked conversationally.
‘I don’t know, Pads, let’s have a look, shall we?’ and the two of them crouched down and prised open Severus’ hand. Severus had his eyes clamped tightly shut, with his left hand over them as an extra precaution. He knew it made him vulnerable, but he was taking no chances.
‘Holly? Why in Merlin’s name is he carrying holly?’ The confusion was genuine. Severus raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t them? Who could it be, then? He tuned out the asinine bleatings of Potter and Black as he racked his brains to think who may be responsible.
‘Leave him alone.’ The low, firm voice startled Severus, and his hand slipped from his eyes.
‘Moony, wha-?’ It seemed that Potter and Black were equally bewildered. ‘But he’s a git, Moony, a great snivelly git! Why on earth should we leave him alone?’
‘Because, Sirius, we are late for Care of Magical Creatures. You are already under threat of detention, and I am merely attempting to ensure that you arrive with more than half the lesson remaining,’ replied Lupin, calmly.
‘Bugger me, so we are,’ grumbled Potter. ‘Oh well, never mind. There’ll be other times.’
Snape scrambled to his feet. In doing so, he let his guard slip. His eyes opened a chink, and there was Remus Lupin, looking coolly at him.
Oh please, no. Not now. Not him. Severus keened gently to himself as his arm made its inexorable rise and his feet moved him closer to Lupin. He felt the blush rise in his cheeks as he heard Potter and Black spluttering behind him. Closing his eyes and bracing himself for a blow and for endless ridicule he was shocked beyond measure to feel a pair of soft lips gently brushing his own.
He stood, gawping as Lupin calmly chivvied a still-spluttering Black and Potter to their lesson. Pettigrew trailed behind, jaw dragging on the floor. Severus jiggled his fingers in his ears. Surely he had not heard a whispered, ‘Merry Christmas, Severus,’ as Lupin passed him?
Severus pulled himself together and pushed open the door of the Library, barely registering the holly falling from his fingers. Smiling to himself, he thought that maybe Christmas wasn’t so bad, after all.