A Christmas Carol

A.N: I know its out of season, but i have been working on it for some time. I hope you dont mind some holiday cheer in april.

Snape’s Apothecary and Potions Supply was a success in every sense of the word. His potions were made of only the most potent and freshest ingredients and he made sure to gather them himself rather then assigning the task to anyone who couldn’t tell high quality herbs and roots from lackluster weeds. He never sold anything past it’s prime, and supervised the brew process all in his shop’s labs, even inspecting the finished potions before they were bottled.

Severus Snape knew from looking at any root, plant, or bulb if it was grown properly, if it was at the peak of it’s maturity or if it was in fact less then the finest choice. He made a name for himself by being a perfectionist and charged amply for his creations. Other potion suppliers had problems with brews that failed or lived up only half way to what they promised. Anyone who bought a Snape potion or ingredient knew they would have no issues at all.

Because of this success, Snape had a staff of ten young men and women who worked for him. They made minor, yet high demand potions, while he oversaw the more complicated elixirs. His habit of tested everything they made rattled their cages, since they had thought they proved themselves to him after being in his employ for years but apparently not. It made no difference to him. This however, was what made him a success. He took no chances when it had his name on it. He always made sure his claims were solid.

It was Christmas Eve and as usual, the staff was finishing up the last of their brewing when the familiar billowing of black robes walked through the labs. Without pausing to greet anyone, or exchange pleasantries, he walked with purpose, his staff knew to avoid blocking his path.

“If anyone here rushes through the last stages of brewing in order to leave early, they will be leaving their jobs as well.” He called out. “I will not risk sending out inferior potions because someone was too impatient to hit the egg nog.”

A series of “Yes Sirs” filled the air and Snape sat at his desk. They continued their brewing, having grown used to his intimidating presence in the lab. They focused intensely on their cauldrons, since Snape had been known to let someone go for a simple mistake. Since they brewed medical potions and healing salves he was harsh with his standards. He supplied to a number of clinics and even the Hogwarts infirmary and he would not have his reputation besmirched by workers who were not worth their money. He paid adequately, but not ridiculously outrageous, and while he was fair, he was hardly generous.

“Happy Christmas Severus.” Hermione Granger walked in the door and over to Snape with a huge smile. She was glamorous in a lovely red suit and matching cloak. Her black boots clicked on the hardwood floor as she walked. His staff was always puzzled about why she had a ready smile for the man who never returned it.

“What are you doing here?” He asked not taking his eyes off the parchment. He was used to her sporadic visits, having worked beside her for a few years at Hogwarts. This was of course before he left the school to open his shop.

“I came to visit, is that so unusual?” The smile never left her face.

“For this shop?” Was mumbled from one of the cauldrons, drawing snickers from the workers and a chuckle from Hermione.

Snape lifted his eyes. “Are the unemployed as humorous as this?” He asked. The laughter died down and stirring, measuring and chopping recommenced in dead silence.

“You shouldn’t treat them like that. They are fabulous workers.” She told him, leaning her elbow on his desk.

He let out a sigh and lifted his head. “What do you want?”

“I came to invite you to……”

“Not interested.” He went back to his parchment.

“…..Christmas dinner tomorrow.” She said without stopping.

“Not interested.” He repeated.

“Oh come on now, at least take me up on this one time. I’ve invited you the past five years.” She leaning further on his desk, trying to force eye contact.

“Do the Weasleys know you offer up their hospitality so freely?” He asked, drilling her with a gaze. She was undaunted thought. Her time at Hogwarts had let her know a different side of Severus Snape. A side that a few other teachers and staff knew as well. He was a man who accepted friendships but only on his terms and only in his own way. Hermione was lucky enough to be one of those, simply because her intellect matched his own. They had many lengthy talks over this topic of that one, and she saw him as a man of ease, comfortable in his abilities and driven when he wanted to be. What they had was a friendship, even though the rest of the world didn’t see it that way.

“They always tell me to bring someone if I like. This year was no different.” She told him, toying with his quills.

“I believe they are referring to a date.” He said.

She sighed, her smile fading just a bit. “Yes, Mrs. Weasley is always after any single woman to find a husband. She means well.”

“No doubt, but I hardly think she will be happy with me walking in the door.” He lifted an eyebrow and gave her a strange look, as if contemplating the situation.

“Don’t come if you are only doing it to make other people miserable.” She said, recognizing his look.

“Other peoples feelings are not my concern.” He said, then turned back to his parchments. “Why do you still go there anyway, you’re hardly a schoolgirl anymore and not even related to them?”

“They are my friends. After my parents died they were my support.” She said.

“Your parents left your amply cared for, you didn’t need their support.” He lifted his eyes.

“That’s not what I mean.” She said, but didn’t continue. Severus knew what she meant but said nothing. Offering comfort was something he wasn’t good at. But the Weasleys were experts in that realm, they had proven it time and again.

“I hope to see you tomorrow for dinner Severus.” She came around the desk and slipped an arm around his shoulders. He only took physical contact from a few people and only if it was brief. He never returned it though. She planted a small kiss on his cheek and them stepped away. “Happy Christmas Severus.” She walked out of the labs returning Christmas greetings that the staff gave her.

The day wore on and soon enough it was closing time. His staff approached him and waited. “Yes?” He asked, knowing what was coming.

“Sir, it’s closing time.” Douglas said. He had been employed the longest and had to go through this ritual every year. He knew what the answer would be but dreaded asking all the same.

“So go.” Severus said, then looked up after they stayed where they were for several moments.

“Sir, tomorrow is Christmas.” He said quietly.

Severus looked up at his staff, all ten of whom appeared to be holding their breathe, afraid to move. He knew what they wanted, they asked him every year, because he made no mention of it at anytime during the season. They wanted the day off. He always gave it to them, but it was more of a convenience for him then compassion. He could care less, he didn’t celebrate the season, he never did. He would be, as usual, researching and brewing in his own home.

“Be on time the day after tomorrow then. Not a half minute late.” He listened to the staff let out sighs of relief and several ‘Thank you Sirs’ were heard. He cleaned up his desk while they began cleaning up the labs, sweeping the floor and wiping down the tables. They left the shop out the door, talking among themselves.

“Mr. Snape,” he looked over his shoulder at Douglas, “Happy Christmas Sir.” Snape didn’t respond and looked back to the bookshelves, putting his volumes away. The door to the shop closed one final time.

After he locked up, he flooed to his house. He took off his jacket and poured himself a vodka. He settled into his chair after his dinner and relaxed with a book. He always used a drink and reading to relax at night, the peace and quiet was more then welcome.

After about an hour a loud bang echoed in his house. He looked over his shoulder to his library where the noise originated. He waited a moment. Nothing. Maybe it came from outside? Maybe he had imagined………

SLAM! He jumped in his chair, but remained sitting. What the hell was that? Rattling chains filled the air. Rattling chains? Was he going mental? The door to his library was thrown open and a mist appeared. A form moved through the door and approached him. “Hello Severus, old friend, still alone?”

“Lucius Malfoy.” Snape whispered to himself, but it was heard.

“Yes, bet you are surprised to see me.” Lucius said, sitting in the armchair beside Snape.

Severus took a moment merely to look. He resembled the castle ghosts, smoky looking and transparent. He was dressed in fine dress robes, and his hair was the same long style he had always favored. He had several long chains that wrapped around his waist, chest and limbs, about twenty feet of chain from the looks of it. “You look well Lucius, considering you’ve been dead these past eight years.”

“Sarcasm was your specialty as I recall.” He said, getting comfortable and relaxing in the chair.

“I’d offer you a drink, but it would be redundant wouldn’t it?” He said, watching the shimmering eyebrow lift and then drop. “Why are you covered in chains Lucius.

“I made them.” He answered.

“You took a iron works class then?” Severus asked, giving him the sarcasm he just recalled.

“I’m serious Severus. I made these in life, although I didn’t know it at the time. My attitude, my way of life was what formed these chains and now I have to wear them for eternity.” He explained.

“Your way of life? You were a successful man of business and society. You had a wife who loved you, and a son who looked up to you.” Severus challenged, leaning in closer. “How can that have been deserving of this?” He gestured to the chains.

“My love for my family is the only thing that keeps these chains from overtaking me. They are as small as they are because I welcomed love, but they are here because I did nothing to return it.” He moved closer to Snape. “I loved my wife but never showed her, I loved my son but was a distant father to him and hardly nurturing. I had so many things in my life that I didn’t recognize. You are building your own chains Severus, and it’s longer then these. You don’t even welcome love in your life and you will suffer for it.” He said.

“Is that so? I happen to love what I do, and my privacy……..”

“I MEAN IT SEVERUS!!!!!” Lucius shouted standing up. “You always had an answer for everything!” Severus leaned back in his chair and looked up at the man who had been like family to him so many years ago.

“Of course I do. You of all people should know I do nothing without reason. I like living alone, I like privacy and peace. What’s wrong with that?” He asked.

“Nothing, if it is what you want, but it isn’t, I know you too well.” Lucius moved to the window. “I remember the boy you were and the young man you used to be.” He looked out into the night. “I want to help you Severus. These chains are waiting for you and I don’t want that. You are the brother I never had.” He turned and looked back at Snape. “I want you to have what I didn’t. I want you to see a better way for yourself.”

“Why? What’s in it for you?” Severus stood and walked over to him. He felt the chill of the close proximity.

“Nothing.” Came his answer.

“I find that hard to believe.” Severus said, rubbing his eyes. “You rarely did anything without a reward for yourself.”

Lucius lifted two chains and jangled them in front of Severus’s face. The dark man listened to the clashes of metal echo in his home and in his ears, louder and louder until the ringing finally stopped. “That’s why its so important for you to learn this. I don’t want you to join me, not when you have time to change how you see your life. You always supported what I did. You played every prank with me at Hogwarts. You stood as my best man when I married Narcissa. You are my son’s godfather. Let me do this for you.”

“Do what?’ Severus asked, confused.

“You will be visited tonight by three ghosts.” He said, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder, as he had done in the past, but his hand just slipped through the limb. Severus felt gooseflesh rise on his arm. “Learn from them Severus. It’s not too late to fix things.”

“Three ghosts? Do you think that’s necessary?” He asked.

“For your sake, yes, or I wouldn’t be here.” Lucius looked closely at him and slowly smiled. “Do you remember when we set that group of nifflers loose in the Slytherin girls dorms?” He smiled.

“Yes,” Severus grinned as well, “the screams could be heard in the common room.”

“Then they all came running down to the common room shrieking and crying in their pajamas.” Lucius laughed. “And the time we got back at Potter and Black for those wedgies? We put that potion you made in their athletic supporters.” He laughed with Severus. “Right in the middle of the next Quidditch match, they began screaming that their bollucks were on fire.”

“I remember,” Severus laughed out loud, “I wonder if their pubic hair every grew back.” The men laughed at the antics of their youth, but Severus was aware of his friends attention.

After a moment Lucius spoke again. “That is what I mean. Your zest for life is gone now, and I don’t want to see you join me here, like this.” He lifted the chains and then let them drop. His form lifted up and drifted out the window. “Please learn Severus, please.”

Severus watched his shape vanish into the night and then he returned to his chair. He didn’t know what to make of this visit, or even if what he had just seen really happened. His friends pleas effected him. Lucius never begged, never in his life, yet tonight he was did.

Did his long lost friend really appear to him? Had he meant it when he said he would be visited again? He looked at his empty glass of vodka and decided not to refill it. Instead he took up his book and tried to concentrate.