The Gifted Curse

Chapter 9 - Trip To Hogsmeade

It was a beautiful bright December morning with a fresh layer of crisp, untouched snow blanketing the Hogwarts grounds. Geneva couldn't wait to get out there as she pulled on her boots that morning over her blue jeans and tucked her black coat under her arms. Breakfast in the Great Hall was earlier than usual for the 7th years taking the trip to Hogsmeade, and was scheduled an hour and a half before usual to ensure an early departure and a full day in the Wizarding village. After tucking into a hearty breakfast, teachers began to appear through the side door at the top of the Great Hall near the staff table. Not all had been present at breakfast, since the Great Hall was only 1/4 in ratio to its usual capacity. Accompanying Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid, were Professor Lupin, Professor Sprout and Professor Snape. They were all dressed for the cold weather, Lupin in his tweed overcoat and brown scarf, Sprout in her wooly bobble hat, navy blue fur coat with a large buckle and brown gloves with fur boots, Hagrid was his own insulation, McGonagall with her green tartan coat almost down to her ankles and a hat to match, and Snape...oh Professor Snape. Geneva's heart jumped into her throat and fell to her stomach, before finally settling as a fluttering feeling in her lower belly. From head to toe he was undoubtedly dressed in black attire - his coat was tailored and long, finishing mid way past his knees, with two large pockets in the front, his pants were long with black boots, bulkier and more winter appropriate than he usually wore in the castle, making him look a little taller than usual. It was the way he had arranged his collar that tantalised Geneva's hormones, pulled right up beside his chiselled face, with his coat buttoned right to the very top. She was unequivocally weak for her teacher. Her daze was broken only when Dumbledore delivered his morning message and wished the students an enjoyable and safe visit, reminding them that misbehaviour will not be tolerated and consequences would be in place once they were back to Hogwarts for any rule breakers.

When Dumbledore concluded his message, Mr Filch's voice filled the Great Hall. He was clutching a clipboard, with Mrs Norris circling his feet in adoration.

"Alright you lot, permission slips ready, line up and teachers will be tickin' ya off the list if you've been signed off by a parent or guardian. If you 'aven't...well then you'll be stayin' 'ere wontchya. Gryffindors over there," he pointed, to Professor McGonagall who was signalling a hand to mark her line.

"Hufflepuffs...." Professor Sprout took to the front with a little smile.

"Slytherins..." he gestured to Professor Snape who looked like he just wanted to get the trip over with.

"Ravenclaw, you'll be with Professor Lupin..." Lupin smiled as a gleeful response filled the room. Students loved him.

Malfoy laughed, nudging Crabbe and Goyle. "Should have been Flitwick instead. One step into the snow and he's a gonner." With the mockery of Flitwick's size, they erupted into laughter. He was of course, just a few feet tall.

The shuffle of feet, coats, bags, and chatter bounced off the walls until all students had filtered into their lines. Each teacher was then handed a clipboard, parchment and quill and proceeded to make their way down the line, ticking off each student who showed their permission slip. Geneva's heart beat fast as Professor Snape approached, his tall, dark figure coming into frame. He never spoke as he went down the line, simply flicked his eyes up to the students slips held outright, and back down at the list to tick them off. She always loved the way his sleeves were long, covering the entire top half of his hand. She suspected they kept him warm whilst down in the dungeons and today would equally serve their purpose.

Geneva had worn her hair down today, and suddenly upon his approach it started to stick to the back of her neck and scarf. Orah was in front of her and was signed off before Geneva got out her own permission slip, and held it before him, her belly fluttering. He was so close she could smell his glorious aroma. For that brief moment she studied his face - his chiselled features, his pale skin against his dark hair and the way his collar was turned up...and then, for a split second before moving on to the next person, Professor Snape flicked his black eyes up toward her. Geneva's heart thudded hard as she caught his glance. He had not looked up to anyone else. She had been meticulously keeping watch. His black eyes were so piercing she felt heat rush through her core.

To make their way to the train station, they took carriages beside the lake before they reached the Hogwarts Express and eagerly boarded the train. Poor Hagrid was having a rough time trying to make his way down the train aisle, shifting his weight to each foot in a sort of sidewards shuffle, trying to avoid knocking into students. He was headed for the double seats at the front.

"'Scuse me, oop, wotchya self there....sorry 'bout tha..."

"Watch yourself!" Malfoy sneered, jolting away. "Big oaf."

"I'll be 'avin less o' that now," Hagrid warned, pointing a finger. "S'cuse me...Hiya Harry...Geneva, would ya move that bag for us, thadda girl..."

Hagrid finally reached his seats and lowered himself down with a great huff of relief.

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Hogsmeade looked just like a Christmas card with its little thatched cottages and shops, all covered in a layer of crisp, blindingly white snow against a bright blue cloudless sky. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Shop doors and windows were decorated with wreathes of fresh holly leaves and berries and the smell of cinnamon and chocolate filled the air.

Though the air was cold, the atmosphere of Hogsmeade warmed Geneva right through to her toes. As Orah had promised, she and Geneva re-acquainted as soon as the crowds of students gathered at the station, although Geneva didn't notice her presence at first; she was too busy staring at her Potions Professor who was dutily carrying out a head count. He then followed up by saying something about keeping in pairs or groups as other schools were present, and assembling back at meeting point at 6PM.

As soon as Orah approached Geneva, she grabbed her arm in excitement. "Wait until you hear what happened with Billy on the train." It wasn't long before she had to wait, as their first stop was The Teacozy, a small tearoom close by.

The bell above the door tinkered as they went in. It was small inside, ambient and filled with a warm glow bouncing off the timber beams. Dark oak tables were laid with cauldron sugar pots, and copper teapots, arranged before chatting teenagers, some of which, Geneva noticed, wore the Durmstrang School uniform.

Orah walked up to the counter, where a plump woman with hair tousled in a bun wearing an apron took their order.

"Two hot chocolates please, with whipped cream and marshmallows."

Orah generously paid, and both girls looked wide eyed at the treat placed before them on the counter top, which had been enchanted with sparkling frosted glaze.

"Thank you." They picked up their tall glasses and found a perfect spot, tucked in the corner next to a large domed window, which gave the impression of sitting in a snow globe. Orah sat with her back towards it, bringing up her elbow and almost knocking over the display of stacked copper teapots behind it. She was that excited to launch into her story.

"So..." Orah began, as Geneva took off her scarf and fixed her hair. "Billy kissed me!" Her eyebrows danced, waiting for a reaction. Geneva's smile turned wide, feeling the overflow of her friend's excitement.

"I'm so happy for you!"

Hearing her giddily talk about this boy made Geneva wish she could equally share her musings with Professor Snape. Except he wasn't a boy, he was a man twice her age, their teacher, a respected professor of Hogwarts, and one so complex at that, not to mention it was absolutely unequivocally wrong in every way. So...deliciously...wrong. Ugh.

Although, in a sense, keeping their encounter a secret was just as exciting as it was dangerous.

Their shopping bags steadily built up throughout the afternoon in Hogsmeade as they wove in and out of the little thatched buildings. There were so many interesting, quirky shops to browse in from Dervish and Banges magical equipment, Gladrags Wizard Wear, Zonkos Joke Shop, and not forgetting the scrumptious Honeydukes sweet shop, where they bagged themselves plenty of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, Fizzing Whizbees, liquorish whips and Cauldron cakes.

It was dark by 4PM and a flurry of snow had began to fall. Enchanted lanterns hovered around the trees, bathing the village in a warm, serene glow. The sound of Christmas Carols filled the air, as they continued to look into busy shop windows searching for the remaining Christmas gifts for their family. People crunched through the snow, ecstatic children pulled on sleds swept past and men walked by with bound Christmas trees carried over their shoulder. They had just reached a book shop, gazing at the titles on display, when Geneva looked up through the snowy, steamed up window and saw him. Snape. Her heart jumped into her throat. He was flicking through a hard-backed book, one of his gloves hanging from his mouth, the other one holding the spine. Oh he was so beautiful. She watched his agile fingers that had so expertly pleasured her turn the pages over his half black clad hands. Whatever he was holding must have been very interesting because he never noticed her. He looked positively transfixed.

"Gen!"

All of sudden she was pulled by Orah who had been trying to get her attention.

"Look. There's bound to be something in here, come on." She dragged her into the next shop.

I wonder what Professor Snape does at Christmas, Geneva wondered, as they walked inside. It was known that most teachers, who reside at Hogwarts during term times, take the holidays away from Hogwarts and return to their homes. I wonder what family he has, she thought, a brother perhaps, a sister...maybe his mother and father are still alive and he spends it with them. Perhaps he has friends come to stay. But Geneva felt sadness wash over her, unable to imagine him with friends. Even as a student, she could sense he was a solitary man, only ever interacting with the staff on a professional level, at least from what she'd seen and could imagine. She could hardly picture him leisurely spending time with Professor McGonagall over tea and scones.

"I think I might get something in here too," Geneva thought as her bright idea made her suddenly aware of her surroundings and the items on display.

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A little before 6PM with bags full of gifts and things for themselves, they approached the meeting place – a large fire lit lamp standing close by to Scrivenshaft's Quill and Stationary shop. Some students were sat on the surrounding benches, others were chatting in groups or throwing snowballs amongst their peers.

Geneva squealed as a snow ball shot past her head and straight into the back of Pansy Parkinson.

"Score!" shouted George Weasley across the way, "Fifty points to Gryffindor I say. What a shot."

"The Weasleys are here!" Geneva laughed. She had to admit, although they'd annoyed her at the ball, they were pretty fun and always good for a laugh.

Orah reminded Geneva that they owned a joke shop near by. How could she forget. Gryfindors were cheering wildly upon their appearance and the red headed mischief makers were loving the attention.

Pansy Parkinson did not look at all pleased. She dropped her bags to form a snowball quicker than George could throw another, but it missed and hit the shop sign above him. At the same time Draco threw one, he was hit on the back of the head by a Hufflepuff boy, sending his snowball awry. It erupted into a snowball fight with screams and laughter filling the air.

"Weasley!" called Professor McGonagall over the chaos. "Trust the both of you to start this. Stop this nonsense at once." Her thin lips pursed hard, etching lines over her cupid's bow.

"Sorry Professor," George laughed "we aren't students anymore. You might want to deduct points from those Slytherin's though."

McGongagall shook her head, huffing at the chaotic debauchery.

"Silence!" came Professor Snape's command. He clapped twice and all flying snow halted mid air before dropping onto the heads of students who let out shrieks as it went down their necks.

The noise dropped decibels within seconds at the voice of authority, but alas, one last snowball was thrown. It hit Snape right on the shoulder of his coat, snow flying off in all directions, some in his hair. People gasped, others held in laugher. Geneva was one of them, pressing two fingers in front of her mouth. McGonagall's lips twisted, concealing a smile.

"Whothrewthat?" Snape shot, hotly. "I want to know. Speak...up."

Nobody owned up. Geneva found his anger at a snowball frustratingly endearing, and melted when Professor McGonagall approached him to brush off the snow with the back of her dragon hide gloves.

"I'm sure it was aiming for someone else Professor."

Snape never looked at McGonagall who theld in laughter, his eyes were fixated on the crowd of students, deducting house points from anyone who was giggling in amusement. In the space of a few seconds he must have deducted a hundred. The whole thing had made Geneva's heart swell in a funny little way. She found his anger stupidly precious.

She laughed on the train journey back to Hogwarts whenever she thought of it.