Christmas Stories

CHRISTMAS STORIES

All I Want for Christmas is You

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Christmas Day, 1999

I don't want a lot for Christmas

There is just one thing I need

I don't care about the presents

Underneath the Christmas tree

Harry Potter quickly glanced down at the address he had written on his hand just an hour before and looked back at the house numbers as he walked down the street. He quickly pulled his glove back down over it and shivered in the cold, holding the carefully wrapped present close to his body and shivering so hard it was starting to hurt. He considered a warming charm might have done him some good, but considering the last time he had done so (just a few days ago) hadn't turned out so good (he ended up setting his jacket on fire, his arm had been trembling so bad from the cold) and he was almost there, really. He wasn't going to die from the cold just yet.

I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

All I want for Christmas

Is you

Maybe Ron was right. Maybe he was insane to do this, Harry considered, as he finally located the right house. He swallowed hard and looked up at the small, grim looking house. Maybe he and Snape got along better these days, but getting him a Christmas present? And delivering it to him? At the home Harry probably shouldn't even know the address of? Harry stood still a moment and tapped his fingers against the side of the gift before gathering up his courage and forcing himself to trudge up that rocky pathway up to the front door, hesitating only a moment before raising his fist and knocking.

I don't want a lot for Christmas

There is just one thing I need

And I don't care about the presents

Underneath the Christmas tree

It didn't take long for the door to open and Harry smiled nervously at the face of his old professor, a look of irritation giving way to one of surprise. "Potter," Snape said, eying him before leaning out of the door and looking around his yard. "How did you find me?"

Harry laughed. "You haven't been trying to hide, have you?"

"I wasn't aware you knew my address," Snape pointed out.

I don't need to hang my stocking

There upon the fireplace

Santa Claus won't make me happy

With a toy on Christmas Day

"Well…Err…I asked…that woman at the shop. Mrs. Cavanaugh. If she knew…She just said you lived where you'd always lived, though she didn't know where it was…but I figured that meant here…So I…Erm…Went and visited Aunt Petunia and asked her if she remembered. She didn't remember the exact address, but…well with the neighborhood I was able to figure it out and…here I am," Harry announced with a shrug.

Snape raised an eyebrow and Harry stared him straight at the eye, hoping his face wasn't as red as it felt. "And what, may I ask, was so important that you had to go on such a mission?"

"I…Well, I got you something for Christmas," Harry said, moving his arms around a bit to bring attention to the gift in his arms.

Snape just stared at him a moment, eyes dropping down to the box in his arms. "And why, Mr. Potter, did you want to do that?"

I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

All I want for Christmas is you

You baby

Why? Why did he want to get the man a present? Harry swallowed and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He really hadn't thought this out very well, had he?

The truth was, Harry hadn't given it much thought. The war had ended over a year and a half ago. Harry had defeated Voldemort and ended up rescuing Snape from where he had lain dying and brought him to healers just in time to save him. He had spent two months in St. Mungo's where Harry visited him daily, even when he woke up from his coma after a week and a half. The man had been a real hero and Harry had been drawn to him…Because of all that he had seen and now knew about the man. Snape seemed as irritated with him as usual, but he hadn't had the energy to be truly mean and spiteful. Once he was out of St. Mungo's, they had Death Eater charges to worry about and Harry had stood up for him to the Wizengamot and proved his innocence.

Once Snape was clear, the new headmistress of Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall, offered him his Defense Against the Dark Arts post back, but Snape had declined in favor of getting away and truly enjoying his newfound freedom. He was offered a job at St. Mungo's in the field of research and also did a fine job of supplying them the healing potions they needed. He had also taken to a side job of brewing potions for various shops that needed them. Particularly, he spent a great deal of time at Mrs. Margie Cavanaugh's potions shop in Godric's Hollow where Harry now lived. Harry figured that was because his mother's grave was there and he was close enough to visit her whenever he wanted.

Whatever it was, Harry had taken to visiting for various reasons and began spending time with Snape whenever they ran into each other. Harry wasn't sure why…He had never really taken the time to try to define their relationship or whatever it was he was doing with Snape, even when Ron and Hermione pointed it all out to him when he decided to get the man a Christmas present.

Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas

I won't even wish for snow

And I'm just gonna keep on waiting

Underneath the mistletoe

I won't make a list and send it

To the North Pole for Saint Nick

I won't even stay awake to

Hear those magic reindeer click

"It really isn't the right response to be a git to someone giving you a gift, you know," Harry chose to say instead.

"I've never been a nice man, nor one set on following social niceties," Snape reminded him.

Harry laughed. "Well, I've always been slow, haven't I?"

"At least you realize it now," Snape said, the corners of his lips twitching, as though tempted to smile. Or rather smirk, Harry figured would make more sense.

'Cause I just want you here tonight

Holding on to me so tight

What more can I do?

Baby all I want for Christmas is you

You

A small, awkward silence followed. Snape just stood in his doorway, watching him expectantly and Harry just stood there dumbly, not really sure what to do. He was hoping Snape would invite him in…But it was Christmas and he really didn't need to intrude. Snape didn't seem very festive, but who knew? Maybe he had his own ways of celebrating the holiday. Even if he seemed like a loner…maybe he had someone special. Harry didn't know…He didn't know nearly as much about the man as he wanted to. A sudden curiosity possessed him, and he was tempted to try peaking inside, to see what Snape was up to this afternoon. If his home was decorated or not…If he had family visiting (seemed unlikely, with the memories he had seen of the man, but one never knew if things could have been mended or if there was extended family Snape had grown close to) or if he had other company or was planning for someone else to arrive.

Harry knew Snape would call him out on his nosiness, though, so Harry refrained from doing anything too obvious. Instead he cleared his throat and extended the box in his arms. Shopping for the man had been near impossible, but Harry finally managed. During one of their latest run-ins, Snape had gone off discussing a new potion he was working on and his need for a particular ingredients that were hard to come by. Harry had put a lot of time, effort, and money into locating them…A rare magical flower grown in Arabia, hair from a chimaera (thank Merlin for Hagrid), scales and eyes of the Antipodean Opaleye dragon (getting those had been sheer luck-Harry had contacted Charlie Weasley who had managed to get him the supplies through a contact in New Zealand, who had just had one of the Opaleyes she was working with die…He was lucky to get to them in time, since dragon parts, particularly the beautiful scales of the Opaleye, went fast), and various other plants and animal parts that were native to other countries and some of which were incredibly rare.

Only now did he recall Ron's questioning of why he was"going through so much trouble for the git" and felt a bit foolish for all he had gone through to get these products.

Oh all the lights are shining

So brightly everywhere

And the sound of children's

Laughter fills the air

"Well…erm…Here you go," Harry said, feeling a bit disoriented in the direction his thoughts were taking him.

Snape eyed him a moment longer before reaching out and taking the box, holding it away from his body awkwardly. "Ahem…Well…Thank you, I suppose, Mr. Potter."

"You're…ah…welcome…sir."

And everyone is singing

I hear those sleigh bells ringing

Santa won't you bring me the one I really need?

Won't you please bring my baby to me?

They stood through another relatively awkward silence in which Harry stared at the man's chest, too nervous to look into his face and Snape's eyes were looking all around his yard and porch. Harry wanted to wait a moment, wondering if Snape would open it here or invite him in or something. Snape seemed uncertain of what to do with this situation at all, completely thrown off guard by the appearance of Harry Potter at his home…a home not many people would find…with a gift.

"Well…Uhh…I better get going," Harry finally said. "Christmas party at the Burrow."

Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas

This is all I'm asking for

I just want to see my baby

Standing right outside my door

"Of course," Snape said, looking a bit relieved by the prospect of this horribly awkward moment ending. Or maybe he just wanted Harry to go.

"Well…Happy Christmas," Harry said, waving lamely before turning around and walking back down the pathway, away from Snape and his house. He turned back around only when he saw the door shut, disappointed to find that Snape had gone back inside. Harry shook his head and continued down and walked across the street after a car drove past and it looked clear and safe. He moved to stand behind a tree and looked around a moment to make sure it was safe to Disapparate…that no Muggles in this neighborhood would catch him leaving in such a manner.

Oh I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

Baby all I want for Christmas is

You baby

Harry felt a certain reluctance to leave that he couldn't quite understand. He had Ginny waiting for him at the Burrow…His friends…His family…Yet he wanted to stay here and spend the day with Snape…A nasty, sarcastic bastard. A war hero, yes, but just as cold and insulting as ever. He didn't understand why more and more lately he was seeking Snape out and hoping to run into him every time he went into town…or why he went through all of the trouble of procuring so many potions ingredients for the man or even going on this little hunt of trying to find where he lived just to give him his gift on Christmas Day. He especially couldn't define that tingling feeling he got in his stomach when the man was near or the strangest urges to be closer and brush against him.

He wasn't in love with the man. That was just silly. Harry frowned and shook his head. Where had that thought even come from? Surely not…He couldn't have feelings for the git! He wasn't even gay…He had Ginny…Right?

All I want for Christmas is you baby

All I want for Christmas is you baby

All I want for Christmas is you baby

Harry turned around and slammed his head into the tree trunk, squeezing his eyes shut and groaning. "Shite."

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Author's Note: Aww love J lol. Anyway, the song is obviously "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey…I like hers and the My Chemical Romance version, but I was listening to Mariah's version while writing this so yeah :P