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Zoom · 07-18-2011, 12:45 PM

Two new readers?! *SQUISHESYOUPEOPLE*

Hehe, ily guys. Which is why I wrote this somewhat-lengthy Christmas chapter. Enjoy!

-----

Hogwarts: December 25, 1996

With no anticipation of the holiday season, Christmas came quickly, and much sooner than Ava had expected.

"See you after break!" she'd told Beatrice and Roxy the morning most of Hogwarts' students set off homeward. They had exchanged hugs and grins and that was that. The twins left on the express along with the others and Ava was left to herself. The days shortly thereafter were spent dozing and doodling- mostly consisting of mindless tasks to ease the girl's growing boredom. For once, she couldn't wait for the holiday season to be over.

Upon Christmas morning the young girl found, much to her surprise, a small pile of gifts addressed to herself at the foot of the bed. Mabel, a mouse-like little girl that Ava bunked next to, had also received a pile, though her's was considerably bigger.

"Merry Christmas Ava," Mabel grinned, as the two sat on their beds deciding which presents to open first.

"Merry Christmas Mabel," Ava returned. Her pile was made up of seven presents- seven little, neatly decorated boxes. She stared with the smallest.

The smallest box was actually two boxes stacked on top of each other, neatly ribboned together with a letter sandwiched between the two. She tore the ribbon off, setting the letter to the side- she'd open that last.

"So who're yours from?" Mabel asked, indicating the gifts.

Ava shrugged. "Dunno. I didn't think I'd get any." She tore off the wrappings, lifting the lid off the first box. Inside was a small vial of clear fluid... Professor Slughorn. The girl smiled. "I guess I'll find out."

★ ★ ★ ★
Among the things Ava had received were a vial of sleeping potion and a chocolate frog card from Professor Slughorn. A scarf from Beatrice and the matching hat from Roxy, a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Jelly Beans from Professor Dumbledore, an old pearl ring from Draco and a carton of chocolates from Mabel were also graciously accepted. The present from Professor Slughorn came with a card, which only showed a drawing of the top of her puzzling box Dumbledore had given her, and said plainly, 'Merry Christmas'. The box from Dumbledore had a note fixed to the side of it inviting her to the staff Christmas Feast, an event she would be most definitely be attending later that evening. And then the gift from Draco merely had a scrap of parchment inside saying, 'Mum was cleaning out her jewelry box. Merry Christmas.'

But it was the very last gift that caught the girl's eye. So small, she probably wouldn't have noticed it had it not been set at the top of the pile, the box was only addressed to her with no indication of who the giver might be. It was a small, black box, the kind you might find a wedding ring in. But rather than holding a ring, the box held a locket with a delicate silver chain. And as she slipped it on before heading down the hall and off to the feast, Ava had to guess at who it might be from.

★ ★ ★ ★
The girl skipped off to the Room of Requirement, all done up in her Sunday best, at promptly seven o' clock. Her hair hung simply down past her shoulders and her usual attire had been swapped for a black velvet dress and ballet flats.

"My, don't you look nice!" Professor Slughorn grinned as she entered the room. He too had dressed up for the occassion.

"As do you sir," she said with a smile. The girl had almost taken her place next to the Professor when the Headmaster appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"Ah, Ava! I'm glad you could make it," Professor Dumbledore greeted. "But if you would be so kind, I have an errand for you."

The girl nodded. "Of course."

Picking up a tray, Dumbledore snapped his fingers and a house elf appeared next to it, gently taking the tray off his hands. "I would very much appreciate it if you would accompany Winky here to take this tray to Professor Snape. He's feeling a bit under the weather, unfortunately," he said gently. And before Ava could respond, Winky set off out the door and down the hall.

Practically sprinting to keep up, Ava and Winky soon found themselves at the entrance to the dungeons. At this point, the house elf handed the tray over to Ava and promptly disappeared.

"Figures," Ava sighed. Carefully, she held the tray in both hands and set off through the dank hallways in search of Professor Snape's office. After many fruitless minutes of searching, she found a narrow hallway tucked away by the Slytherin common room. Taking this, she crept up the stairs to find a door. She knocked twice.

"Professor Snape?" she called. A muffled response came from the other side telling her to come in. The twelve year old gently pushed open the door to find herself in an office, but Professor Snape was nowhere to be found. To Ava's left was a staircase guarded by a black tapestry. Pushing the tapestry aside, girl and tray set up the stairs.

She found herself in an orderly room, much like the one she'd had back in Professor Dumbledore's suite, this one slightly smaller, however, and lacking any windows. In a chair by the opposite wall was Professor Snape.

"Professor Dumbledore asked me to bring you this. He said you were feeling ill," Ava explained quietly.

Sensing that she did not want to be here, Severus nodded and set down his book. "Just set it on the bedside table," he said calmly.

Ava blinked, before giving a curt nod. "Of course, Professor," she said. The girl set the tray down as she was told and headed for the stairs. Stopping in her tracks, Ava asked, "Professor Snape?"

"Yes, Miss Pierce?" he asked cautiously. The girl looked up at him and gave a faint smile.

"Merry Christmas," Ava said softly. There was a brief pause in which the air hung heavily before he answered.

"Merry Christmas."

07-18-2011, 12:45 PM	#54 (permalink)
Zoom Doxy Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Westeros [EST] Posts: 6,444	caffeine princess ♬ lunchbox adventurer ❀ little rose Two new readers?! SQUISHESYOUPEOPLE Hehe, ily guys. Which is why I wrote this somewhat-lengthy Christmas chapter. Enjoy! ----- Hogwarts: December 25, 1996 With no anticipation of the holiday season, Christmas came quickly, and much sooner than Ava had expected. "See you after break!" she'd told Beatrice and Roxy the morning most of Hogwarts' students set off homeward. They had exchanged hugs and grins and that was that. The twins left on the express along with the others and Ava was left to herself. The days shortly thereafter were spent dozing and doodling- mostly consisting of mindless tasks to ease the girl's growing boredom. For once, she couldn't wait for the holiday season to be over. Upon Christmas morning the young girl found, much to her surprise, a small pile of gifts addressed to herself at the foot of the bed. Mabel, a mouse-like little girl that Ava bunked next to, had also received a pile, though her's was considerably bigger. "Merry Christmas Ava," Mabel grinned, as the two sat on their beds deciding which presents to open first. "Merry Christmas Mabel," Ava returned. Her pile was made up of seven presents- seven little, neatly decorated boxes. She stared with the smallest. The smallest box was actually two boxes stacked on top of each other, neatly ribboned together with a letter sandwiched between the two. She tore the ribbon off, setting the letter to the side- she'd open that last. "So who're yours from?" Mabel asked, indicating the gifts. Ava shrugged. "Dunno. I didn't think I'd get any." She tore off the wrappings, lifting the lid off the first box. Inside was a small vial of clear fluid... Professor Slughorn. The girl smiled. "I guess I'll find out." ★ ★ ★ ★ Among the things Ava had received were a vial of sleeping potion and a chocolate frog card from Professor Slughorn. A scarf from Beatrice and the matching hat from Roxy, a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Jelly Beans from Professor Dumbledore, an old pearl ring from Draco and a carton of chocolates from Mabel were also graciously accepted. The present from Professor Slughorn came with a card, which only showed a drawing of the top of her puzzling box Dumbledore had given her, and said plainly, 'Merry Christmas'. The box from Dumbledore had a note fixed to the side of it inviting her to the staff Christmas Feast, an event she would be most definitely be attending later that evening. And then the gift from Draco merely had a scrap of parchment inside saying, 'Mum was cleaning out her jewelry box. Merry Christmas.' But it was the very last gift that caught the girl's eye. So small, she probably wouldn't have noticed it had it not been set at the top of the pile, the box was only addressed to her with no indication of who the giver might be. It was a small, black box, the kind you might find a wedding ring in. But rather than holding a ring, the box held a locket with a delicate silver chain. And as she slipped it on before heading down the hall and off to the feast, Ava had to guess at who it might be from. ★ ★ ★ ★ The girl skipped off to the Room of Requirement, all done up in her Sunday best, at promptly seven o' clock. Her hair hung simply down past her shoulders and her usual attire had been swapped for a black velvet dress and ballet flats. "My, don't you look nice!" Professor Slughorn grinned as she entered the room. He too had dressed up for the occassion. "As do you sir," she said with a smile. The girl had almost taken her place next to the Professor when the Headmaster appeared from seemingly nowhere. "Ah, Ava! I'm glad you could make it," Professor Dumbledore greeted. "But if you would be so kind, I have an errand for you." The girl nodded. "Of course." Picking up a tray, Dumbledore snapped his fingers and a house elf appeared next to it, gently taking the tray off his hands. "I would very much appreciate it if you would accompany Winky here to take this tray to Professor Snape. He's feeling a bit under the weather, unfortunately," he said gently. And before Ava could respond, Winky set off out the door and down the hall. Practically sprinting to keep up, Ava and Winky soon found themselves at the entrance to the dungeons. At this point, the house elf handed the tray over to Ava and promptly disappeared. "Figures," Ava sighed. Carefully, she held the tray in both hands and set off through the dank hallways in search of Professor Snape's office. After many fruitless minutes of searching, she found a narrow hallway tucked away by the Slytherin common room. Taking this, she crept up the stairs to find a door. She knocked twice. "Professor Snape?" she called. A muffled response came from the other side telling her to come in. The twelve year old gently pushed open the door to find herself in an office, but Professor Snape was nowhere to be found. To Ava's left was a staircase guarded by a black tapestry. Pushing the tapestry aside, girl and tray set up the stairs. She found herself in an orderly room, much like the one she'd had back in Professor Dumbledore's suite, this one slightly smaller, however, and lacking any windows. In a chair by the opposite wall was Professor Snape. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to bring you this. He said you were feeling ill," Ava explained quietly. Sensing that she did not want to be here, Severus nodded and set down his book. "Just set it on the bedside table," he said calmly. Ava blinked, before giving a curt nod. "Of course, Professor," she said. The girl set the tray down as she was told and headed for the stairs. Stopping in her tracks, Ava asked, "Professor Snape?" "Yes, Miss Pierce?" he asked cautiously. The girl looked up at him and gave a faint smile. "Merry Christmas," Ava said softly. There was a brief pause in which the air hung heavily before he answered. "Merry Christmas."