Irish Melody

\"So, you have to call the broom to you. Up Broom!\" Severus said, standing perfectly still like a statue in the snow. As Isibeal wobbled back and forth her skirt tucked into her boots.

\"Up Broom.\" The small wooden broomstick, flew straight up into her hands. She giggled.

\"Okay now swing your leg over, and sit.\" As Isibeal tried she missed, slipped on the snow and fell right on her back. She began to laugh profusely. \"Come on...Isibeal.\"

\"Sorry, okay i\'ll behave.\" She swung her leg over and sat. Then she balanced herself. \"Hah! I\'m doing it\"

\"Now just let the broom do its work.\" Isibeal started to move slowly in a straight line. Then she rose higher, then back down. Then straight. After about ten minutes of just some light flying around Severus, she landed.

\"That\'s good for today. I don\'t really like heights.\" Severus took her around the waist, and helped her off the broom.

\"You did quite wonderfully for your first time.\" Severus took the brooms, and followed Isibeal back into the castle. It was the night before Christmas, the entire castle was buzzing with Holiday cheer. That evening, as a special treat Dumbledore conjured up a carolling spell for dinner. Isibeal hummed along, not really knowing the words. She bopped her head along to the beat. Remus laughed at her cute movements.

\"Having a good holiday Isibeal?\"

\"Yes Remus thank you. How has yours been?\"

\"Excellent, i saw you up on that broomstick today. You\'re a natural.\" Isibeal let out alittle laugh, then blushed.

\"No..\" The feast ended, but the festivities were still on. Dumbledore stood.

\"Alright, would anyone care to grace us with a holiday song?\"

\"Headmaster, Isibeal should sing. She has a beautiful voice.\" Severus muttered above his sips of coffee.

\" Yes Miss McOugh, please sing for us.\" Remus said.

\"No, i couldn\'t.. thank you\"

\"Alright anybody else?\" Dumbledore called up a first year Hufflepuff who belted out alittle Jingle Bells. Severus turned to Isibeal.

\"Why didn\'t you sing?\"

\"I didn\'t want to..please just drop it.\"

\"You have a lovely singing voice, you should have sang.\"

\"Severus.. i said no!\" Her whisper began to become talking.

\"Isibeal, i don\'t think you understand what a gift you have right now. You are wasting it by singing it alone, or to a woman who can barely understand you.\" Severus stopped, he realized he crossed the line. Isibeal stood.

\"I sing that song, because it\'s the only one i know.\" She moved away from her seat. \"I hope you enjoy your holiday Remus, i left a gift from myself under the tree for you.\" She turned and walked out the door. She ran down the hallways. She was slowly getting herself lost. Then she managed to stumble across her room. When inside she began to pack her things. She had all of her belongings repacked in her suitcase. Just to go to the dungeons to drop off Severus\'s gift. The dark hallways, simply lighted by torches gave Isibeal even less hope for her future, every step was a step backwards. She arrived infront of his door. Then everything inside her stopped, she couldn\'t leave. She had no place to go... She stood in front of the door, laid down her suitcases, and began to sing.

\"Oh Danny boy, the pipes the pipes are calling.. From glen to glen and down the mountain side The summer\'s gone, and all the flowers are dying \'Tis you, \'tis you must go and I must bide. But come ye back when summer\'s in the meadow Or when the valley\'s hushed and white with snow-\" The door opened, Severus stood there, a bottle of Firewhiskey in his hand.

\"What is it Miss McOugh?\" His voice was surly and in discontent.

\"I don\'t want to leave Severus..\" She bowed her head. He teetered side to side. Then without his permission he fell to the ground. Passed out cold from too much drink. Luckily for him this wasn\'t the first time She had dealt with something like this. So She brought him inside to his room, took off his boots, and clothes, then placed him in his sleep wear. She washed the drool from his mouth. Pushed the sweat drenched hair from his face. She washed his neck, face, and arms with a cold towel and dried him. After she was sure, he was done for the night. She went into his office and threw out any bottle of Firewhiskey she could find. Then grabbing a book she curled up on his couch and slept, until Christmas.