Severus Scrooged

READER WARNING: My fics are very AU/AR, rarely are they canon, and often the players are OOC, if it bothers you, please do not read. Thank you!



Happy Christmas,just a little oneshot story that kept interrupting me while I was working on Mastering Temptation......a little holiday romance for you.






Severus Scrooged

By: Snape Goddess


“Please, Severus, don’t walk away like this.” Hermione stood in the snow outside of Malfoy Manor, her arms wrapped around her to ward off the chill as she pleaded with the man she had loved for so many years not to leave.


“I can’t do this anymore, Hermione. Go back inside to the party before you catch your death out here in the cold.” He snapped, concerned despite his cold demeanor.


“Will you come by later then?” She asked hopefully.


“No, I just can’t be what you want me to be. It’s time for us to end what should have never been allowed to begin in the first place.” He could feel the tight aching in his chest when he witnessed her heart breaking as his words registered. Tears began to roll down her cheeks.


“Please, you don’t mean that. I know you love me, just as much as I love you. You can’t leave me, Severus, not now.” She sobbed.


“I do mean it, Hermione. As fond of you as I am, it just isn’t enough. Goodbye, Hermione, Happy Christmas.” He said softly before he turned and vanished into the night.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Spinners End –


Severus was slumped in an old, worn chair with a nice tall glass of firewhiskey in his hand. Beside him on the table sat a photograph of he and Hermione taken on a recent holiday. She looked so happy, she always did and he never could figure out why she loved him so much. Not that it mattered any more. He had finally gotten the nerve to do what needed to be done, he had walked away from her before he had the chance to destroy that spark inside her.


He slammed the frame down, the glass shattering beneath the force and pricking his finger. He stared at the drop of blood forming on the end of his finger and scowled. The pain in his finger nothing compared to the incessant aching in his chest. He closed his eyes and sighed wearily just as the clock on the mantle chimed the ninth hour.


He heard the rustle of robes and opened one eye to see who had invaded his private home. He opened both eyes and looked down at his glass, then back up at his visitor.


“Albus? I didn’t think I was pissed enough to see the dead.” He said, looking back up into the twinkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore.


“I am not a hallucination Severus. I’m here to save you from making the biggest mistake of your life.” Albus said, his head tilting to the side as he peered down at the broken man.


“Oh? Pray, tell me what mistake I could possibly make that overshadows the many in my past?” Severus asked sarcastically.


“You could walk away from the one person who has loved you enough to overlook your past and your rather cold nature.” He said, peering over his spectacles in a knowing manner.


“Sorry old man, you are too late to prevent that!” Severus said, a tight, painful looking grin on his face as he tossed back the entire glass of whiskey.


“You can fix it, Severus. You can fix the mistake you made and have the future you were meant to have, with her. Or you can sit here with your drink and let it rot what is left of your heart.” Albus went to the window and watched the snow blow fiercely outside.


“You are dead, a figment of my imagination manifested by stress and too much drink. I made my decision. I’m too old, too jaded and too dark for someone like her. She deserves better than a broken old wizard like me.” He refilled his glass and closed his eyes once more.


“What she deserves is to be happy. Being with you makes her happy, Severus. The woman loves you.” Albus said.


“Never understood why, to be honest. It wasn’t as though I ever did anything to earn her love.” Severus said. “She’s better off, I’m certain of it.”


“And what about you, Severus? You love her, how can you let her go so easily?” Albus made his way back to Severus’s side and looked down at the man who was now half sleeping.


“Not so easily. But I have to do the right thing for her. I wasn’t meant for happiness; from the day I was born my life has been miserable. Misery is what I know; it’s where I am most comfortable.” He said softly.


“I think perhaps you should learn the truth of your destiny, Severus. On this night before the midnight hour you will be visited by three spirits. They will show you just how wrong you are. Listen for the bells, Severus.” A loud pop startled Severus awake, he looked over at the fire blazing in the hearth, hissing and popping. He set his glass on the table and rubbed his eyes. He obviously wasn’t going to drink her memory away, instead he was going to have nightmares and hallucinate.


He staggered to the kitchen to make a pot of tea. He looked around at the shabby, dusty house and frowned. This wasn’t what he wanted, he wanted to be in her comfortable little house in Dover with its oversized furniture and sweet scented candles burning. He wanted to enjoy the sound of the sea crashing against the shore while she nestled into his arms and they talked about their day at work. Not alone in the dingy little house he had grown up in making tea in an old rusty kettle.


Bells began to tinkle softly and Severus shook his head and looked out the kitchen window, looking for some idiot who may have wandered into the backyard. He could see nothing but blinding snow. He withdrew his pocket watch; it was only ten, two more hours until he spent another lonely Christmas.


He set the kettle on the stove, before reaching over his head for the tea tin. It was then that he saw the reflection in the window. He turned quickly, his wand in his hand as he readied to protect himself.


“Curse me if you like, Sev. But it wont do you any good, I’m already dead, remember?” Severus stood there in shock as he lowered his wand slowly.

“Lilly?” He blinked several times. “Something must have been wonky with that whiskey.” He muttered, pressing he heels of his palms into his eyes.


“It isn’t the whiskey, and you aren’t dreaming, Severus. Albus told you I would come, did he not?” She asked, moving closer to him.


“He said something about three spirits….what is going on here, why are you here?” He asked, frowning at the woman standing before him.


“I am here to show you your past, Severus. So that you may get a clearer picture of where you have been.” Lilly said.


“I know my past, Lilly, I lived it, and I have very vivid memories of every excruciating moment.” He said, reaching for the kettle as it began to whine.


“I think time has altered some of them, and some you need to be reminded of again.” Lilly stepped closer and laid her cool, ghostly lips against his cheek. “Come with me, Severus.”


The world went completely dark for a moment, and then a blinding light dimmed slowly until Severus found himself standing upstairs in his bedroom. Only it wasn’t the bedroom of adult Severus, but the bedroom of a small boy.

“What is this?” He asked, looking around the room.


“Just watch.” Lilly said quietly. The bedroom door opened and Severus watched as his seven year old self walked inside, closing the door behind him. He could hear the sound of his parents bellowing at one another in the other room as the child climbed onto his bed clutching a small wooden train in his hands.


“A gift from my Grandmother Snape.” He said, watching as the boy touched his finger to the muggle toy and sent it rolling across the coverlet. “I had been able to use magic for awhile, my father hated it, hated everything to do with magic.” The child reached into the pocket of a pair of trousers that were at least two sizes too small and withdrew an apple, eating happily as he watched the train roll across the bed, tiny puffs of smoke coming from the smoke stacks. “It was the only gift I received. Every Christmas she was the only one who gave me anything.”


The room went black and suddenly he was in the Slytherin dormitory. He was sixteen, the only student who had stayed behind for the holidays. He was sitting alone in the common room, eating the sweets that the teachers had left for him as he considered the invitation by Lucius and a few of the older boys to join their little organization.


He was flashed forward once more to the Christmas following the war. He was still recovering from his injuries, barely able to walk even with the cane. He stood off to the side at a Christmas celebration at the Weasley’s. He wouldn’t have come had they not been the ones who had cared for him so diligently when he had been found near death.


They were all laughing, so happy as they enjoyed their time together. He saw her standing there, that familiar smile on her face and his heart skipped. She was watching him watch her friends. How had he not known she was staring at him? Severus saw himself turn and head off down the hall towards the room he had been given for his recovery. She set her glass on the table and followed him.


Severus followed the images of the past into the back corridor of the Weasley home and listened.

“Won’t you join us?” She asked softly, laying her hand on his arm.

“No.” Was his gruff reply as he shrugged her off.

“Please? Its Christmas, no one should be alone on Christmas.” She said.

“I’m used to it.” He said, softening a little when she looked up at him with such sadness in her amber eyes. “Thank you though.”


He remembered that next moment so clearly. She had reached out with gentle fingers and touched the scar that marred the side of his face and neck, and then lifted onto her toes and kissed the pink, puckered flesh.

“Happy Christmas, Severus.” She whispered before she fled.


The blackness came again and he found himself sitting in the living room of her house in Dover. She had started teaching at the school that year and had invited him to her house for Christmas. Her friends had already left at that point as he had drawn the short straw that meant he got to help her with clean up.

“I suppose I should go now that all has been set to rights.” He said, pushing himself from the over stuffed chair.


“Not yet, I have a gift for you.” She said, reaching into a bright red stocking and withdrawing a small box. “I didn’t want to give it to you with the others present.”


Severus watched as his past self opened the box to find a silver necklace with a charm bearing a black dragon with emerald eyes. Severus present let his hand drift to where the pendant lay still, nestled against his chest. He had worn it everyday since she had given it to him.


“Do you like it?” She asked, pulling it from the box and putting it around his neck.


“I do. I don’t know what to say.” He said quietly.


“Don’t say anything.” She whispered. “Happy Christmas, Severus.” She kissed him then. Not the sweet kiss of a girl who was trying to sooth and comfort a wounded man, but a kiss filled with want, desire and love.


“She loved you long before that moment, Severus. She loved you even as a young girl.” Lilly said.


“I never did deserve her love, never understood how she could love me so much.” He said, watching the scene in front of him unfold. He had been unable to resist the sweet taste of her kiss, that had never changed. He watched as he pulled her close and they slid to the floor. “We shouldn’t watch anymore, Lilly.” Severus said. He had made love to her for the first time that night, and he knew if they stayed any longer that Lilly would bear witness to that private, intimate moment.


“Come, Severus. It’s almost time for your next visitor.” Lilly leaned forward and kissed his cheek once more. Severus found himself back in the drab little kitchen all alone. He thought about what he had seen, from the sad Christmas of a little boy no one cared for, a teenager so desperate to be a part of something that he became a deatheater, and then the first holidays spent with someone who loved him, someone who wanted and cared for him.


“I don’t deserve to be happy.” He said, shaking his head slowly. He looked up when the bells tinkled once more.


“Normally I would agree with you, but it seems that a higher power thinks otherwise.” Sirius Black was leaning in the doorway of the kitchen, his arms crossed over his chest. “Hello, Severus. Did you miss me?”


“As much as I would miss a sore tooth, Black.” Severus drawled. “Why are you here? I don’t know why my subconscious would pull you from its depths.”


“Still think you are dreaming?” Sirius asked, a smug smile on his face. “I’m here to show you what happened after you broke that beautiful girl’s heart.” Sirius walked towards Severus who was backing up slowly.

“Don’t you dare try to kiss me, Black.” He snarled.


“No, that was Lilly’s method, mine is more…..painful.” Sirius smiled and drew back his fist before connecting it solidly with Severus’s jaw.


“Ow, you son of a …..” Severus was standing in the snow in front of the Malfoy home. He watched himself walking away as Hermione sobbed on the front steps.


“I love you, Severus.” She whispered to his retreating back. The doors opened behind her and Remus Lupin stepped outside with his cloak in his hand to wrap around her.


“Hermione, are you alright?” He asked, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief to wipe her eyes.


“No, Remus, he left me.” She said, sobbing as Remus pulled her into his arms.


“Don’t fret, he will be back. He loves you, Hermione. I never thought I would see it, but it’s obvious how much he loves you. He’s just upset because Draco was teasing him so much about your age. He’ll be back.” Remus said, rubbing her back awkwardly.


“No. You didn’t see his face, Remus. I don’t think this was just about Draco’s teasing, I think he’s wanted to do this for awhile now.” She said. “What am I going to do now, Remus?”


“Just wait, I’m sure once he thinks about it he will be back.” Remus said, kissing the top of her head. “If he’s worthy of you, he’ll be back or else he’s a bloody fool.”


“Lupin is in love with her isn’t he?” Severus looked over at Sirius in surprise.


“He’s fond of her, and perhaps a little in love with her.” Sirius said. “Listen, Severus.”

Hermione’s sobs did not dissipate as she stood there wrapped in Lupin’s cloak, her tears soaking the front of his robes.


“Does he know about the little one?” Remus asked.


“I was going to tell him tomorrow.” She said, sniffling. “I don’t think it matters now.”


“What will you do?” Remus asked.


“I don’t know yet, I suppose I’ll leave Hogwarts and raise the child alone.” She said softly. “I really thought he loved me, Remus.”


“I’m sure he does, Hermione. I’m sure he’s just scared, give him time to see what you mean to him.” Remus said, wiping her eyes. “Come back inside, it’s not good for you to be out here in the cold.”


Severus watched Lupin put his arm around her waist and lead her back inside, closing the heavy wooden doors behind them.

“She’s pregnant?” Severus asked breathlessly, his head pounding and his heart aching to the point he had his hand pressed against the center of his chest.


“She is. Not only did you walk away from the one person who has loved you unconditionally, but you walked away from your child as well.” Sirius said quietly.


“I had no idea….” He said, just before Sirius decked him once more and Severus found himself once again in his kitchen at Spinner’s End holding his jaw.


He stumbled into the living room and back into the chair he had occupied earlier. The clock on the mantle struck eleven and once more the bells began to ring.

“I can not believe you still live in this hovel.” A familiar voice drawled from beside him. Severus looked up and saw Lucius standing beside him, his lips curled in disgust as he looked around the room.


“Lucius. Are you here to torture me some more?” Severus asked.

“Not physically. My task is to show you what the future holds if you do not make things right.” Lucius said. “Not exactly my idea of fun, but I still have to atone for my sins.”


“You aren’t going to hit me as well are you?” Severus asked, still rubbing his sore jaw.


“No, we were friends, Severus. I will simply ask you to shake my hand.” Lucius extended a gloved hand and waited a few moments before Severus took it reluctantly. The now familiar darkness came over him and he found himself in Hermione’s living room. She was standing near the window, her stomach rounded softly as she watched Remus trying to assemble a pram in the middle of the floor.


“Isn’t there a spell you can use?” She asked, laughing at the wizard’s frown.


“Only if I actually knew how it went together to begin with, couldn’t you have bought one already assembled?” He asked. There was a soft knocking at the door and Hermione went to answer. Draco and Harry stepped inside, their expressions solemn.


“Mione, you should sit down.” Harry said, taking her by the arm and leading her to the sofa.


“What’s wrong?” She asked, sitting slowly.


“Hermione, its Severus…..he’s dead. Hermione.” Draco said, sitting on the cushion beside her.


“What do you mean?” Her face paled visibly and she looked as though she might be ill at any moment.


“There was a fire, at Spinner’s End. That old stove of his had a gas leak and it ignited. We’re so sorry, Hermione.” Harry said, wrapping his arms around her from behind as she screamed in her grief. Her cries were so wrenching that Severus had to look away until they stopped.


“Let me take her to her room and put her to bed.” Remus said. Severus looked up to see him carry Hermione through the house towards her room. In a flash of light they were outside a small house in the country.


“Go ahead, look inside.” Lucius said, nudging his shoulder so that he stepped up to the window. Inside he could see Hermione sitting in the middle of the floor with a small, dark haired boy playing with a toy train. Severus gasped, the child looked exactly like him.


“Mummy, look! I made the train go!” He cried.


“I see that, Severus.” She laughed.


“Papa come see!” The little boy cried happily. Severus smiled at the little one’s enthusiasm. His stomach dropped when Lupin entered carrying a cup of tea.


“What is it, little man?” He asked, folding his legs beneath him on the floor beside Hermione, leaning in to kiss her cheek.


“I made the train go with magic!” Little Severus said, picking up his toy and climbing into Remus’s lap. “Watch me Papa!”


Severus felt tears well in his eyes, a sensation he had not felt in years. He turned away and faced Lucius.


“Why did you show me this?” He asked. “Why did you show me how happy she and my son will be without me?”


“She isn’t happy, Severus. She cares for Remus, but her heart is and always will belong to you. You can change this. It could be you in there celebrating Christmas with your wife and your son, all you have to do is see the truth and make it right.” Lucius said, taking Severus by the hand and in a flash of light they were back at Spinner’s End and Severus was alone.


The clock on the mantle chimed midnight, it was officially Christmas. Severus wasted no time grabbing up his cloak and making his way out into his backyard and disaparating to the Malfoy home. He ran up the front stairs and banged on the door, shoving past the house elf who answered and into the parlor where the small gathering was still in full swing.


“Where is she?” He asked, out of breath as he looked around at all the stunned faces.


“If you mean Hermione she’s gone home.” Draco said. “Haven’t you done enough?”


“No, I have to apologize, I’m an idiot.” He said, turning on his heel and heading towards the door. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned around to face Remus.


“Don’t hurt her anymore, Severus.” He said softly. Severus was angry at first, but then he thought about how he felt seeing Remus with Hermione and his son and his anger left him just as quickly as it came.


“I know you care for her, Remus. I promise, I won’t hurt her again, ever.” Severus watched the wizard’s sad eyes for a moment, and then put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.” Severus was out the door and out of sight in an instant.


“So am I.” Remus said, closing the door softly.


Hermione was sitting in the kitchen drinking hot chocolate. She couldn’t stay at the party any longer, not without him. She didn’t even bother to light her tree when she came home; Christmas had lost its meaning for her when he walked away. Her eyes were dry and itchy, and despite the urge to cry even more, she just didn’t have any tears left.


She heard someone knocking on her front door and set her mug aside, reaching for her wand on the counter. No doubt it was one of her friends come to check up on her, but one could never be too safe when they were alone. She looked through the peephole but it was frozen over and she couldn’t see anything. With her wand ready, she opened her door and gasped softly.


“Severus.” His name slipped out on a tiny sob when she saw him. The snow was blowing wildly around him, clinging to his cloak and his inky hair. “Why are you here?”


“I couldn’t walk away.” He said. “I tried, but I just can’t go back to a life without you. I love you.”


“I love you.” She whispered, throwing her arms around his neck and holding on as tight as she could. “Please don’t leave me again.”


“Never again.” He said, lifting her from her feet and carrying her back inside. “You are stuck with me for good. Just the three of us.” He said, laying his hand against her still flat stomach.


“How did you know?” She asked in surprise.


“Some nosy ghosts told me.” He said. He laughed at her confused expression. “Never mind, this is the best Christmas present I have ever received.” He kissed her softly. “Say you will marry me…..make a family with me.”


“Yes, I will marry you.” She said against his lips. His thumbs swiped the tears from her cheeks as he kissed her deeper, his tongue slipping inside to taste and tease. He shrugged out of his cloak as he backed her into the living room slowly, never breaking the kiss. Her fingers made quick work of his jacket and shirt while he divested her of the long, cotton nightshirt she wore.


When they were both completely unclothed Severus lowered her gently to the rug in front of the fire. He looked up and noticed that the tree was dark.

“That just won’t do, it’s Christmas.” He said and with a wave of his hand the tree was alight with hundreds of twinkling white lights. “You know I made love to you for the first time right here exactly a year ago.”


“I was yours long before that.” She said, threading her fingers through his hair as she opened her body to receive him. Their I love yous were simultaneous as they came together, their bodies joining in a familiar, perfect rhythm. They made love with as much passion and reverence as the first time and when they were spent, basking in the sated afterglow they curled beneath a throw Severus had summoned from the sofa and drifted off to sleep, unaware of the visitors just arriving.


“I still can’t believe they ended up together.” Sirius said, shaking his head.


“He deserves to be happy, Sirius, he earned it.” Lilly said, smiling down at them.


“I don’t see why you lot have to meddle so much in the living’s personal lives. Let them screw it up for themselves I say.” Lucius said, looking down at his fingernails, completely disinterested in the couple sleeping on the floor.


“Do you have something better to do then?” Albus asked, staring longingly at a dish full of sweets on the table.


“I suppose not.” Lucius sighed. “Alright, whose life do we meddle with next?”

The ghostly foursome slowly vanished, arguing over who would be their next project.



HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!