Always - Severus Snape (COMPLETE)

Christmas Celebration

To Lily's absolute delight, snow settled in for hibernation in the first week of December that year. She had taken her exams, and was now awaiting her results, but before then, she could celebrate a white Christmas with her best friend.

Severus, however, was extremely disgruntled with the weather. Snow meant ice and ice meant below freezing temperatures, and below freezing temperatures meant a cold and miserable Severus. He didn't own a pair of gloves, or a scarf or hat, and relied on his frock coat to keep him warm despite the giant holes moths had made during its stay in the Snape's coat cupboard.

Snow also meant that he would have to wash in the river as the pipes had frozen, and work extra hard to force the stove to set alight. Snow brought no work, and caused Tobias Snape to seek out the refuge of the local pubs even more. Mr Snape Sr. drowned his sorrows, and drew out the cold, with alcohol, before setting upon his wife and son.

So Severus was only pleased when he received his second invitation to dine at the Evans abode. This told him that he hadn't actually failed in his table manners the previous year, or so he hoped. It hadn't been ideal to succumb to a panic attack halfway through the meal, admittedly. But Petunia, acting remarkably humanely for once, had helped him, and he was exceptionally grateful for that.

*

Lily's home was picturesque and prismatic. Thin strips of shiny metal foil were attached to long pieces of thread and hung from the ceiling and above picture frames. Decorative balls were balanced precariously on a large evergreen tree in the corner of the living room, and an angel, which looked amazingly like a cross between Petunia and Lily, stood proudly on its summit.

Severus was once again tasked with making the sauce for the treacle tart, but was not forced to eat it this time, for which he was infinitely thankful. He noticed that the elder Evans daughter kept sending him worried looks, as though expecting him to flee for the door at any moment, and figured that she was most likely the reason for his being left alone during the meal. Lily nattered on and on with Rose and Mark, but Severus did not have to speak more than he wanted.

Once the meal was finished, and Severus was preparing to leave, Lily ran up to him with a neatly-wrapped box.

"What is this?" He asked cautiously. What could possibly need to be wrapped up? Something delicate, perhaps?

"Open it and find out," Lily replied excitedly.

With slender fingers Severus carefully unwrapped the parcel, making sure to preserve the colourful paper that had encased it. He was wary of ripping the paper, sure that it would be used for something other than protecting the object inside.

"Oh."

Severus' voice gave away his surprise at seeing a pair of warm, woolly gloves inside the box. Why would they need to keep gloves inside a box? Were they exceptionally valuable?

"They're wonderful, Lily," he said awkwardly, at long last.

He made to give back the box... and received Lily's bewildered stare.

"What is it?" He asked, scared.

Rose stepped forwards comfortingly.

"Severus, it's... a present, from Lily to you," the woman explained gently. "You can keep the gloves, and the box, and the paper. They are yours now."

Severus held onto the gift as though it would vanish.

"What did I do to deserve this?" He questioned, amazed.

Rose patted him on the shoulder.

"You are a good friend to Lily. That is what you have done to deserve this. Use them well."

Lily gave him a hug, and watched as her friend slowly pulled the gloves over his small hands. When on the doorstep, Severus turned back to give Lily one last smile, and he did not miss the sympathetic looks of the three older Evans'. Even Petunia appeared sad, and he felt like he might be the cause of it.

Was all misery caused by him?

*****

A.N. Severus receives his first ever gift! Gloves! Don't worry, Lily's presents will get better. XD

It was a celebration, despite Severus' conflicted emotions at the end. Rose, Mark and Petunia are simply sad that Severus has never had a Christmas present before. Oh, and before you ask, Mark won't always be the strong and silent one. He will get a larger speaking role in the next chapter.

Thank you for reading and PLEASE COMMENT!

Was Lily's present the right gift for Severus?