snape and skull

16

Harry's First Real Christmas

A/N: Lots of Skullduggery in here, as well as much bonding between Harry and Severus. Hope you enjoy the long chapter!
N

eville continued to have Remedial Potions lessons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays up until the week of finals. At night, he joined the study group in Snape's quarters, helping the others with Herbology, which he had an instinctive understanding of. Draco had sneered at the shy boy at first, until a swift reprimand from his Head stilled his tongue. Under the dire threat of being pitched out of Snape's quarters by the seat of his trousers, Malfoy remembered the manners Narcissa had taught him and was icily polite to Neville. Once he realized, however, that the other boy had valuable knowledge to impart, and that it would benefit him to learn it, he began to be more welcoming to Augusta's grandson.
E

ven Hermione was impressed with Neville's expertise. "Wow! You're as brilliant in Herbology as Professor Snape is in potions, Neville," she exclaimed after Neville had recited all the parts of a moonshower plant and their properties without hesitation.
Neville blushed. "I've always liked plants," was all he said.
Severus was relaxing in his recliner, reading a book, thanks to Lena he was not stuck grading papers all evening. The library witch had kept her side of the bargain, and faithfully graded his homework on those nights he tutored Neville. Not only that, but she had taken it a step further and graded the small quizzes he had given his classes in preparation for the big day. When he had told her it was not necessary, she had shrugged and said what was a quiz between friends?
"Besides, it's giving me a refresher course in potions, which I haven't studied since I left school. I'm a bit rusty." Lena admitted. "No knowledge is ever wasted."
Severus couldn't refute that fact, and so allowed the witch to continue grading the quizzes, but he would be taking her out to lunch during the holidays as a reward. He never wanted it said that Severus Snape did not pay his debts. He glanced over at the little study group from time to time, and finding them all working and not trying to hex each other, made a smile flitter across his face for an instant.
Skullduggery woke from his nap upon his wizard's shoulder and peered about. Almost immediately he spotted the children and hissed in Snape's ear. "Isn't that sweet, Sev? Your son and his friends, studying their little brains out. Looks like your perfectionist influence has paid off, eh? "Twould make a nice Christmas card. Too bad you don't have a camera."
Severus eyed the black bird. "Who says I don't have a camera?"
"If you do, where is it? Do you remember?"
"Of course! It's . . ." here he paused, thinking rapidly. " . . . in my closet, in the box where I used to keep Lily's album. I haven't used it since . . . she died."
"Perhaps you might consider taking it out again?" suggested the raven softly. "So you can capture some new memories to replace the sad ones."
Severus was silent for several minutes. Sometimes Skull could be eerily perceptive, but then, he was a greater Tower raven, and all of that breed were uncannily intuitive. He brought up a hand to stroke the glossy midnight feathers and murmured, "Perhaps, old friend."
The raven crooned wordlessly in his ear, then abruptly left his perch and flew into the half-open door of Snape's bedroom.
Severus thought nothing of it, as Skull's perch was in there. He figured the raven had gone to get a drink or nibble upon the dried fruit in his food bowl. He turned back to his book. The clock upon his mantle chimed eight-thirty. Severus went to turn a page when Skullduggery returned and dropped the InstaMagic camera into Snape's lap.
"There!" the raven croaked, pleased. "Now start making some new memories."
Snape stared at the bird in astonishment. "Skullduggery, how on earth did you find this?"
"I looked where you said."
"In the dark?"
"I can see in the dark when I wish," the raven replied, in a mysterious tone. He flew over to where Harry was sitting and perched upon the back of his chair. Skull waited until he saw Snape pick up the camera and fiddle with it for a few moments. Then he cawed loudly, sounding like a movie director, "Lights! Camera! Action!"
All of the students jerked to attention and looked over at the professor, startled.
Severus clicked the camera.
"Huh? Why'd you take our picture, Professor?" asked Ron.
"For posterity. And to prove that I wasn't dreaming when I tell the rest of the staff over dinner tomorrow that I had Gryffindors and a Slytherin studying together without bloodshed," Severus answered slyly. Then he tucked the camera in his pocket.
"Now you're famous," Skullduggery crowed. "You've joined the ranks of those whom Sev considers worthy of photographing. It's a great honor." The raven bowed, spreading his wings. "I take full credit for it."
"You would," Snape snorted. He eyed his students and ward. "You need to finish up, you have half-an-hour until nine o'clock."
There was a mad round of shuffling of books and parchment.
"Hermione, can you show me that wand movement again?" queried Draco.
"Harry, do you add the flobberworms before or after the beetle carapaces?" Neville asked.
"After. And remember to stir four times clockwise," Harry replied. Then he turned to Ron. "Ron, can you show me how to cast that turtle into a teacup again? I think I keep missing a syllable."
Ron demonstrated the spell once more.
When the clock struck nine, they gathered up all their paraphernalia, thanked Snape for the use of his quarters, then they departed. "Good night, sir! Good night, Skull!"
"Good night, children! Sleep tight, don't let the nargles bite! They like to eat your socks. And maybe a bit of your toes." Skull cackled wickedly. "Get a good night's sleep, you want to be nice and rested for your exams."
Ron, Neville, and Draco were nearly doubled over with laughter.
Hermione frowned. "What's a nargle?"
Harry shrugged. "Must be some magical animal. Never heard of them." He waved at Skull. "Wish me luck."
"You don't need luck, Mr. Potter. Not when you have a perfectly good head on your shoulders," the professor told him.
"Don't worry, Harry. Sev won't beat you too hard if you fail an exam." Skullduggery teased.
Harry's eyes widened.
"Ignore the senile ramblings of the raven behind the curtain," Severus drawled. "I have never beaten a student over bad marks, nor will I ever."
"Spoilsport!" Skull grumbled and stuck out his tongue at his wizard. "Quoth the raven—Nevermore!"
Severus rolled his eyes. "Quoth the professor—Shut thy mouth. Now."
"Really!" the bird huffed, sounding like someone's insulted old auntie. "There's no need to be so nasty! I was only having a bit of fun, I was. Harry knows that, right, Harry?" Skull glared disapprovingly at Severus. "Humph! We'll see if Father Christmas brings you anything Christmas morning!"
Harry was stricken by a sudden fit of giggles. Only Skullduggery could get away with saying such insolent things to Snape's face. "Good night, sir!" he called, then bolted down the corridor. When he reached the stairs he collapsed, his shoulders shaking with smothered laughter.
"Harry? Is something the matter?" asked Neville, coming up to him.
Harry shook his head. "No. Just Skull. He just told Professor Snape—" he burst out in giggles again.
"Told him what?" Ron asked.
"Tell you later," Harry said, still gasping and snorting with laughter.
"Come on, you three! Before we're late and Percy makes us write lines," Hermione called from the top of the stairs.
The boys hustled then, running up the stairs as quickly as they could.
Severus shut the door to his quarters with a snap, muttering out of the corner of his mouth, "Someday, Skullduggery . . ."
"To the moon, Alice! To the moon!"
"Don't push me, bird."
"What? You don't like Jackie Gleason?"
"Who in hell is that?"
"Muggle actor. Played in a show called The Honeymooners. See, Sev, this is why we need a TV . . ."
"A TV will not work at Hogwarts, how many times must I tell you this?" sighed the exasperated Potions Master.