December Moon (Snape)
‘Twas the night before holiday and all through the castle, not a creature was stirring, not even a…
“Abort!”
They didn’t need to be told twice, all catching a glimpse of the Dungeon Bat’s cloak. None of the students listened to Snape’s bellow to stop, nor Peeves’ cheerful cackles. Only against Professor Snape did the poltergeist intervene on student’s after-curfew shenanigans. Had anybody else caught sight of them, they’d be toast. However, if Snape caught them, their subsequent term would be absolute hell. The five seventh years reconvened in a rarely used classroom.
“Think we lost him?” A red-faced Ravenclaw panted, vowing to never again risk Snape’s after curfew wrath.
“Yeah,” a Gryffindor whispered optimistically, his ear to the door. “We’re in the clear.”
“So the party continues here,” the lone Hufflepuff of the group giggled, digging a baggie and pipe out his robes completely unaware there was a sixth guest to their ill-advised gathering. “Told ya getting baked in the castle was a good idea.”
The Gryffindor took a drag, eyeing their Slytherin counterpart. “Be even better if the spot Jameson told us about was Snape-proof.”
“I can’t help he’s got nothing better to do then stalk the halls,” the Slytherin shot back.
“Dude’s married now,” the Hufflepuff snorted glassy-eyed. “Shouldn’t he be more worried about his wife and kids?”
“Careful,” Jameson cautioned lowly. “She walks these halls quieter than him.”
Erica watched from the shadows, almost tempted to let them go. She wasn’t a saint at their age either, not to mentioned thrilled at the fact they recognized her own skills. But if her husband was the one to catch them, their Christmases wouldn’t be near as merry. Sure marriage had mellowed him out some, but sneaking out after curfew remained one of his top major offenses. Another lingering scar from his experience during the Second Wizarding War. Sighing, she emerged, wiping dust from her shoulder.
“Five points from each of your houses,” she announced without malice, extending her hand. “And I’ll be confiscating that.”
“Oh, come on!” The Gryffindor, a headstrong little bastard whose mouth usually wrote checks his body couldn’t cash, exclaimed.
“Rules are rules and you broke the most important one,” Erica smiled. “Don’t get caught.”
“I thought you were cool, Professor.”
A familiar light weight cushioned on her shoulder, drawing imploring gazes from the students. “Come on, Virgil. Help us out!”
Before Virgil could delivering the bad news, an unmistakeable baritone no student wanted to hear (especially after curfew) sounded from the doorway.
“My, my, students parting in a banned substance on school grounds after curfew and so disrespectful when apprehended by a professor,” he hissed, ticking the various offenses off on his fingers. “As the saying goes, three strikes you’re out.”
Wisely, the students kept silent, already fearful of the repercussions. However their worst transgression, the one Professor Severus Snape absolutely would not abide, was the fact it’d been his wife they’d disrespected.
“You deserve expulsion…” he continued, drawing himself up to his full height. But it was Christmas, and Snape could practically feel the burn of his wife’s glare. “However, thirty points from each of your houses will suffice.”
“Five,” Erica reiterated, folding her arms unamused.
“Ten,” Snape countered, equally stubborn. The students silently ping-ponged their attention between the two.
“Professor Snape,” Yuletide mirth shone in her eyes. “It’s Christmas. No harm no foul.”
“Very well,” Snape huffed, eyeing the miscreants once more. “Considering it your Christmas gift. You will return and remain in your dormitories until morning. Am I clear?”
The students nodded, quickly scurrying to the four corners of the castle.
“A Christmas miracle,” Virgil tittered, returning to their chambers in a puff of smoke to spend the rest of his night with his two favorite people: the Snape children. Sorcha and Alex were already asleep in their beds.
“Let’s see,” Erica grinned. “The tally for the semester is twenty three students caught out of bed for you and twenty five for me. I win.”
A smile only Erica could coax from him, tugged at his features. They’d began the ridiculous game her first year of teaching and the tradition stuck. He couldn’t even remember how it started. Another tradition would commence tomorrow, much to their daughter’s delight.
Grading the final exam, Snape shoved back from his desk utterly knackered. Hogwarts was silent, all students returned to their parents for the holiday, a needed reprieve for all. He swiftly checked the dungeons to assure nothing was amiss before apparating home.
Snow blanketed Hogsmeade, their little tucked away corner something out of a winter wonderland. The quiet calm was interrupted by a happy squeal. Sorcha ran to him with outstretched arms as Erica watched from the doorway holding an already bundled up Alex and a picnic basket. Their adventure awaited.
“Daddy, hurry up!” Sorcha cried, holding up his woolen scarf that threatened to tangle in her feet. With a grunt and cracking knees, he scooped up his daughter, ignoring the pain in his back. The Dark Lord and the Order of Merlin exacted their pound of flesh from him during the war, but looking back, it’d all been worth it. Sorcha, immune to her father’s thoughts, wasted no time haphazardly looping the scarf around his neck.
“Somebody’s excited,” Snape murmured, kissing her forehead before throwing a knowing look Erica’s way. Their daughter wasn’t prone to over-exuberance, typically reserved like her daddy. But tonight was special.
“Moon walk!” Sorcha yelled, wiggling with excitement in his arms.
“Close enough,” Erica laughed, finally greeting her husband with a proper kiss despite Alex’s displeasure of being momentarily squished between them. Snape took the basket as they started towards the Forbidden Forest.
Snow crunched underfoot in the waning sunlight as they trekked to “their spot.” Years ago, Erica’s first year teaching to be exact, Snape took her to a hidden away spring he’d discovered years prior. He’d never seen any other living thing there so it became “his.” That day he showed Erica, she dove into the spring unaware that it was perpetually frigid. The memory still brought a smile to his face. Shortly after their engagement they returned again with blankets and mead to watch the full moon. And so began their Christmas tradition.
Sorcha politely asked to be put down and scampered ahead, eyes peeled for any friendly magical creatures she could convince to come out of hiding. Alex was content to be held, curiously taking in the shimmering landscape.
While still alert, Severus and Erica enjoyed the peaceful ambiance, the danger they’d previously faced in the Forbidden Forest a distant memory. Virgil’s presence also alleviated their concern. He was content to let Erica and Severus be on their little tradition, but that first Christmas with Sorcha they insisted he join them. He’d never forget Severus’ words. “Like it or not, you’re part of this family. You’re coming.” A bit harsh, but from Severus Snape it was practically a hug.
The ancient yews surrounding their spring sparkled under the ethereal December moon, rejuvenating them in a way they couldn’t put into words. There it felt like peace on earth and good will towards all was an achievable goal. When Sorcha started walking, she called these jaunts the moon walk and thus the annual December moon walk was born.
Slipping through the tall and proud sentry like trees, they entered the grove. They were in luck. The moon shone brightly tonight, reflecting against the spring with mirror like stillness. Virgil kept himself between an excited Sorcha and the spring, suggesting they should make snow angels while the parents made their preparations. Setting Alex on the warmth charmed blanket, Erica stretched out to enjoy the moment. Always the more practical of the two, Severus warded their space, ensuring a warming charm was set in place around them that wouldn’t affect the snow. Soon Sorcha grew tired of playing and climbed into her mother’s lap next to Alex, her gaze never leaving the pond.
“Do you think we’ll see a unicorn?” She whispered solemnly.
“You know the unicorns only approach us if Hagrid’s here,” Erica answered. “And he always makes sure to take you when he’s going to check on them.”
“I know,” their toddler sighed, burdened by the knowledge her parents weren’t near as cool as the gamekeeper.
“Have I told you,” Severus pulled Sorcha into his lap. “That the December Moon brings out all kinds of creatures.”
“How come we’ve never seen them?” Sorcha asked indignantly as Erica covered a snort of laughter. Their daughter was most definitely a Snape and Erica wasn’t gonna get in the middle of that discussion.
“Because the only come when little girls are quiet and respectful,” Severus answered softly, his eyes mischievous.
Unsure of Severus was telling the truth or merely spinning an entertaining story for their daughter, Erica settled in and listened. Severus then spun a most wonderful tale of rare magical creatures who gathered at this spring to honor the December moon. According to his story, on this night, if they were quiet and good, the Yuletide spirits might allow a glimpse of their magic. But only to those they deemed pure of heart.
Erica kept her laughter to herself. If true, she and Severus were out of luck, but a part of her hoped it was real if only so the kids could experience it.
A faint rustling sounded from the trees across the spring. Sorcha excitedly covered her mount with both hands, trying to stay quiet like a good little girl, her joy evident. The parents and Virgil, however, weren’t near as trusting. They shifted defensively around their family, Severus and Erica already with wands in hand. Virgil crouched at the ready, just waiting for Erica to say the word.
What emerged from the foliage was impossible in nature as they knew it, at least this part of the world. A giant white wolf with piercing blue eyes came into view followed by an equally white reindeer. They didn’t fight as one would expect, but instead lapped at the water, shattering the mirror-like illusion. They then faced the moon and reverently dipped their head in unison before casting a single glance in the Snape family’s direction. As they slipped through the trees, all Erica could focus on were the footprints. These animals were real.
The kids couldn’t verbalize it, but all felt the wild winter blessing thrum in their chests. Severus caught Erica’s awed gaze, their fingers intertwined under the soft silver glow of the December Moon, their children snuggled up against them, enchanted by the wintery magic surrounding them. All would be peaceful and bright.