A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry

Part 46

Reposted: December 8, 2021

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This chapter was so much fun to write

Summary: Yule Ball

On Christmas Day, Harry was awoken something in his ear. His eyes snapped open and he looked up to see Azure with her tail raised.

'Azure!' he yelped. 'What did I tell you about doing that?'

'Don't do it to your dormmates,' the snake answered promptly.

Harry opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. She was right; he hadn't told her he was off limits. 'Shut up,' he said because he had no better retort.

After getting dressed, he went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Most of the morning was spent enjoying the presents, and then back to the Great Hall for a magnificent lunch.

After that, Harry spent some time with Remus, listening to the stories of all the mischief the Marauders had gotten up to with rapture.

Draco poked his head in around two o'clock to tell Harry there was a big snowball fight down in the courtyard. They all went down to see Fred and George teaming up on Ron.

Harry grabbed a handful of snow and lobbed it at them. It hit Fred in the side of his face, and he yelped at the sudden coldness. He whipped around toward the source.

"He did it," Harry said, pointing at a grinning Draco.

The grin was wiped off his face as Fred advanced toward him. "No, it wasn't me! I swear!" he shrieked as Fred began chasing him around the courtyard.

Harry laughed and went to help George in getting Ron.

All around, students from every house were coming out and joining in on the fun.

"I don't think I've ever seen them all so carefree together," McGonagall remarked from where she stood with Severus.

Severus nodded in agreement. Dumbledore always preached unity, yet he never did anything to encourage it. He would definitely be in for a surprise when he heard about this.

Remus came running over, looking harried.

"What's wrong, wolf?" Severus said, almost teasingly. "Can't keep up with the youths?"

"We're the same age, Severus!" Remus exclaimed, ducking behind Severus as a stray snowball came hurtling toward him. It struck the wall behind him. "What?" he said at Severus' look. "You're tall."

"Hey, no fair!" George yelled as Harry suddenly turned on him.

"Every wizard for himself!" Harry shouted back.

"Can't say the same for witches," Daphne said. She was standing with Susan and Hannah from Hufflepuff. All three of them had snow in each hand.

"Uh oh," Harry, Ron, and George said at the same time before they were practically buried under a wave of snow.

Satisfied, the girls shook hands formally before splitting up to wreak havoc elsewhere.

"This is why I don't like girls," Harry muttered, spitting out a mouthful of snow.

Ron nodded fervently. His hair was almost completely obscured in white.

"The professors look a bit too cozy for my liking," Harry remarked, staring at Remus and Severus with narrowed eyes. Remus was still using Severus as a shield, much to the latter's chagrin and McGonagall's amusement.