Lily's Charm: The Gift

1996

Severus held up the black jumper, doing his best not to grimace at the garish silver S on the front.

"That was very clever, Molly dear," Arthur said with a fond look, "to make the S look like a serpent."

Molly flushed at her husband's praise, though she was still looking expectantly at Severus.

"Indeed," Severus agreed. Molly beamed at him, completely missing his dry tone.

"Well? Put it on, Severus," she said happily, making excited motions with her hands. "Don't be shy."

Harry, Remus, and Tonks all looked like they were trying not to smile. Since the rest of the Weasleys were all watching him expectantly, Severus slid it carefully over his head; it fit remarkably well. There were pressed lips all around the room, and he was almost certain one of the twins snorted. Mrs. Weasley however, looked delighted as she turned to Harry.

"Go ahead and open yours, dear," she encouraged with a motherly nod. Harry smiled at her and did as she asked, though he had to untwine his fingers from Ginny's in order to do so.

His lips twitched as soon as he had the package open. "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley," he said quickly, and before Molly could answer, he was pulling another black jumper over his head--this one with a silver H.

Harry's eyes met Severus', and even Severus was hard-pressed not to smile that time; it was a bit like looking in a mirror.

"Harry's not a Slytherin, mum," Ron complained, making a face from where he sat on the floor beside the tree.

"Hush, Ron," Molly chided, flapping her fingers at her youngest son. And then she twisted slightly toward Bill, who was standing with an arm looped around Fleur Delacour. "Fetch the camera, would you Bill?"

But the twins beat him to it, all but shoving Bill and his lady friend out of the way in their mad dash toward the kitchen. They returned, stumbling over one another in their effort to pass the camera to their mother, who was glaring by the time she had it in her hands.

"Really, boys!" she chided the snickering pair as she pushed her rumpled hair out of her face and stood up. But by the time she turned back to Severus and Harry, she was smiling once more. She gestured them closer together with her free hand, tilting her head and squinting.

"Sorry," Ginny whispered to Harry, though she was smiling as Harry slid closer to Severus.

"Say Skiving Snackboxes!" Fred called out; George chortled.

"Smile," Molly coaxed, ignoring the twins. She frowned slightly when Severus simply relaxed his jaw.

"Better just take it, mum," Severus could hear George saying in his mother's ear. "I think that's as much of a smile as you're ever going to get out of Professor Snape."

Severus had to force his muscles to remain relaxed as Molly's eyes brightened in brief amusement. She finally snapped several photos of Harry and him on the sofa, before encouraging both Ginny and Ron into the frame--with Severus and Ron sitting rather stiffly beside one another--and then ushering Severus and Ron off the sofa so that she could take several more of Harry and Ginny alone.

"Mum, I think that's plenty," Ginny assured her mother firmly after a dozen clicks of the camera.

"Thank you," Harry said politely, which made Molly beam again.

Harry and Ginny began to stand, but Molly immediately shook her head, and then began organizing the entire Weasley clan, and their five guests, on and around the gargantuan sofa with groans of protests from her children.

Once everyone was posed just the way Molly wanted them, she waved her wand toward the camera, with a few muttered instructions, before settling in beside Arthur in the middle of the sofa. The camera flashed several times.

"Free for all!" Bill yelled suddenly, startling Remus and Tonks, and both the Snapes.

"He means, we're finished with the formal poses," Ginny told the bewildered guests with a grin.

Severus kept his irritation and slight discomfiture carefully shielded, since Harry seemed to be quite enjoying the family bustle. He watched his son as he made a face for the camera, his fingers once more tangled with Ginny's. Ron put his hands around Harry's neck after that; Harry pretending he couldn't breathe, his tongue lolling out.

The camera had long since stopped whirring, and the room was reasonably under control again, with the large group splitting off into smaller conversations, when a loud knock was heard at the back door.

"Must be Hermione!" Ron said with a grin, and in much the same way his elder brothers had, he dashed out of the room.

Harry, with a fleeting smile for Severus, took Ginny's hand and followed his friend. Molly, with Tonks and a rather reluctant Miss Delacour in tow, hurried after them. Severus, though he was doing his best to blend into the room's eclectic furniture, was drawn into the circle of Weasley men and Remus--almost as if he belonged there.

--

"You'll suffocate him, Hermione," Ron told his girlfriend with a grin as she attempted to squeeze the air out of Harry's lungs. Hermione kissed Harry's cheek soundly before finally letting him go. She searched his eyes, and Harry knew she was still unsure if Harry really had understood why she'd written that letter to his father, even though Harry had already assured Hermione that he had, after Sirius' funeral.

Harry smiled at her, hoping she'd let the subject lie now, since he hadn't any plans to mention what he'd almost done, to either Ron or Ginny.

"Please do come in," Mrs. Weasley was saying to Hermione's parents. Harry and his friends drifted toward the stairs as she began introductions.

"How are you, Harry?" Hermione asked, obviously not prepared to allow the subject to drop completely.

"Better," Harry answered honestly as they trekked upwards. None of them had had much of a chance to speak at Sirius' funeral, and truthfully, Harry hadn't felt much like talking. Ginny squeezed his hand, as if she understood what he'd been thinking. Harry smiled a little at her, just as grateful for her now as he had been two days ago.

He'd spent a long time, standing next to Sirius' coffin--just staring.

Ginny had held him tightly when he'd finally turned away, silently letting him pull his emotions back under control--stroking his hair gently as he sniffed out a few more tears. She'd released him just as Remus was saying his final farewell, and just in time to be pulled into his friend's arms.

And this time, Remus had cried, the tears coursing down his cheeks, unchecked as he'd held Harry. Harry's chest tightened as his mind wandered over the memory of Remus holding him so tightly...

"I loved him," Remus finally whispered, his arms tightening as if the words were painful.

"I know," Harry said, not knowing what else to say.

Remus gripped his arms then, and pulled Harry a little away from him. And Harry saw the pain there in Remus' eyes, so raw and deep--and unexpected, in a way he couldn't have explained. And somehow, Harry's eyes found his eyes straying to Tonks, who was standing just behind Remus. There was pain her eyes as well--and hope.

Harry looked back to Remus, who had followed Harry's gaze.

"I love her as well," he said softly, nodding his head a little in answer to Harry's silent question. He stared at Harry, while Harry glanced once more at Tonks, and then back again to Remus.

Harry smiled a little, which removed any of the anxiety he thought he could trace on his friend's face. Remus squeezed his shoulders before he stepped back.

"Harry?"

Harry shook his head slowly, pulling himself out of his thoughts to find himself sitting on Ginny's bed, with Ginny staring up at him. He smiled down at her.

"Are you all right?" she asked quietly. He nodded, and pulled her to him. He breathed deeply, letting the scent of her flowery shampoo fill his nostrils.

"Just thinking about Remus..."

"He seems to be doing all right, now," Ginny reassured him. Harry pulled her even closer.

"Yeah... I just hope he and Tonks will be all right. I can't imagine how it would feel..." Harry shook his head, not wanting to finish that sentence.

Ginny turned her face up to his, and Harry kissed her, needing just to be near her. To feel that he was alive, and that things were the same, even without Sirius. That life would go on as it always had.

And with Ginny in his arms, he found he couldn't not tell her what he'd almost done. Ginny looked up at him with question marks in her dark brown eyes as Harry pulled his head away. Harry took a deep breath, hoping she wouldn't be angry, and explained everything.

As soon as he finished, he stared at her, and after a silent, shocked moment, Ginny flung her arms around his neck, holding him tighter even than Hermione had downstairs, and unlike Hermione's, Ginny's arms were quaking slightly.

"It's okay, Gin," he told her softly as he ran his hands slowly up and down her back. "I'm okay now."

Ginny pulled her head back a little so that she was gazing into his eyes, and Harry wondered if Ginny would ever decide he was simply too mental and go find someone who didn't have a near-death experience every other month. He must have looked glum at the thought, since Ginny chose that moment to take his face in her hands and kiss him soundly.

"I should smack you instead, you know," she murmured, even as she continued to kiss him.

And all of sudden, Harry wanted to laugh as her lips pressed against his. And not that odd, manic laughter he had felt bubbling up on the surface in the few days after Sirius had died.

"It's Christmas," he reminded her, giving in to his urge and quietly chuckling, and was surprised that he didn't feel guilty about the happiness which momentarily overshadowed his thoughts of Sirius.

"True..."

Harry had no idea how long they stayed there, kissing, but he forced himself to stay upright--and his hands still on Ginny's hips; there was no telling how long it would be until somebody would burst in. He finally pulled back. Ginny smiled at him as she brushed her hair away from her flushed cheeks.

"I got you a present," she told him, sounding very excited about it. Harry leaned one of his palms against the bed, smiling a little as he watched her rifling through the top drawer of her bureau. She finally straightened up and came back to the bed with a flat, rectangular package.

"It's not a book," she told him, wrinkling her nose. "Hermione took care of that already."

Harry peeled the gold wrapping off carefully, not wanting to muck up any of the etiquette he assumed went along with opening presents from your girlfriend. As the crinkly wrap fell away, Harry couldn't help smiling.

"I know it's sort of redundant after my mum took pictures..."

Harry looked up quickly. "I love it, Gin," he said sincerely. He kissed her lightly, just once, before turning back to the photograph. "How did you manage it?" he marveled. Harry watched himself in the picture, grinning at his father, who was gazing back at him, his familiar, and mostly elusive, half-smile curving his lips.

"Ron took it, actually," Ginny said, curling her legs up close to Harry's on the bed. "It's from him as well. He took it one day when you stayed after Potions, and he and Hermione were waiting for you. I gave him a camera months ago and told him to make sure your dad was smiling."

"Took him months, eh?" Harry asked, shaking his head in amusement as he watched his father smiling. When he looked up again, Ginny was watching him, a soft smile on her lips. Harry set the photo carefully on the bed. "Do you want yours?" he asked, as if he was genuinely curious. Ginny sat up a little straighter, her brown eyes sparkling as she nodded eagerly.

As Harry dug his fingers into his pocket, he said apologetically, "It's nothing as nice as the photo, but I thought you'd like it." He wished now that he had chosen something a bit more personal. And hoped Ginny wouldn't think the gift stupid.

"I will," she told him, sounding mightily confident of it. She unwrapped the small box swiftly, obviously not worrying about tearing the green foil. "Ohh..." she breathed as she lifted the lid, and the nervous butterflies in Harry's stomach stilled. Ginny looked up at him, her smile full of excitement. "It's beautiful."

"Yeah?" Harry couldn't help but ask, startled that he'd gotten it right.

"Perfect," she said softly. She lifted the silver chain from the box and fastened it with ease around her neck. She fingered the tiny, delicate Snitch--suspended by the thin chain--now nestled in the hollow of her neck that so fascinated Harry.

Harry lifted the tiny snitch, letting his fingers linger against her collarbone. "Hermione told me a Snitch wasn't very romantic," he said, glancing up to find Ginny watching him.

"That's because Hermione doesn't like Quidditch."

"Ron thought it was brilliant," Harry said, which made Ginny laugh. "So did my dad, actually. He and Remus helped me find it on that last day of our holiday." He brushed a few strands of hair from her shoulder. "They have a brilliant wizarding street in Paris...it's smaller than Diagon Alley though."

"You went shopping for jewelry with your dad and Remus?" Ginny's lips were twitching at that. Harry shrugged.

"It was the first time chance I had to go anywhere since the summer. And anyway," he added with a smile for the memory, "it was funny to watch my dad and Remus argue over what you would like best."

"Did they really?" Ginny laughed as she twisted a little so that she could rest her back against Harry's chest. Harry pulled her close with one arm, while his fingers kept tracing over the linked chain.

"Not actually arguing, I suppose," he said, feeling rather lazy with Ginny in his arms. He leaned back against her headboard, and closed his eyes, letting the happy memories mingle with the present.

"How about a rose, Harry? It's quite lovely."

Harry peered over Remus' shoulder. The gold necklace, with its blossoming rose was pretty. Harry pursed his lips. He wasn't sure it was quite right for Ginny though.

"Perhaps something less...frilly," Severus interjected from behind them. Harry twisted round; his father raised an eyebrow as if to say, "You agree, no?" Harry grinned.

"I would hardly call it frilly, Severus," Remus objected.

"It is quite suitable for a young lady of fifteen," the tall, overly proper shopkeeper interjected, leaning forward over the glass countertop.

Severus eyed him disdainfully, before returning his attention to Harry. "Anything that evokes a meaningful emotion from her would be appropriate."

Harry's face scrunched up as he thought about that. "Something she likes, you mean?"

"Or something that will remind her of you," Remus elaborated, to which Severus pursed his lips. "Too sentimental?" Remus asked, with a smiling glance for Harry. Severus didn't answer; instead, turning back to the shopkeeper.

"How much time will you require to create an original design?" he inquired. The shopkeeper smiled widely.

"The intricacy of the design will certainly be a factor," he said, looking a bit like galleons were obscuring his vision.

"It's just a Christmas gift," Harry said quickly. "It doesn't have to be fancy, or-"

The shopkeeper glared at him and re-focused on Severus. "What are we hoping to create?" he asked sweetly.

"I really do think Ginny would like the rose," Remus said, coming to stand beside Severus. "Or even a simple heart..."

"She is not his primary school girlfriend," Severus interrupted, with a scathing undertone. "Harry wishes to give her something meaningful."

"It's his first present to her, Severus," Remus said quietly. "It will be meaningful."

"Anyone could give Ginny a rose or a heart, Lupin. Harry does not want to give her something so ordinary."

"Ordinary?!"

Harry shook his head as he drifted away from the conversation, though he did briefly wonder, from his friend's offended tone, if Remus had chosen something with a heart for Tonks--or maybe a rose...

He stopped in front of the shop's display window, gazing across the cobbled street at the Quidditch supply store, his eyes wandering over the winged Snitches decorating the window. He grinned.

A Snitch...

"We should ask Tonks what Remus gave her."

Ginny had turned her face up to his while Harry had talked. Her fingers walked across his jaw; he bent down and kissed her.

"Did they stop arguing when you suggested a Snitch?" Ginny asked when Harry pulled his lips back. Harry lifted the snitch with the back of his fingers.

"As soon as I said it, my dad ordered the shopkeeper to begin immediately. My dad was rather pleased with himself, I think, since he was the one who suggested something original."

"Hmm..." Ginny mused, glancing down at the Snitch. "You'd better not let Witch Weekly hear about this, or every witch in Britain will want one."

"Want one what?"

Harry and Ginny swiveled their heads toward the door. Ron's head was poking around the open door.

"Knock much?" Ginny grumbled. Ron stuck out his tongue and pushed the door open. Hermione smiled brightly at them.

"You're lucky I didn't tell mum you two were in here alone," Ron retorted, plopping himself on Ginny's desk chair; Hermione took the padded rocking chair. Ginny sat up a little.

"You and Hermione were just as alone," Harry pointed out before Ginny had a chance. Ginny resettled herself against Harry's chest; Harry was certain she was smiling.

Ron shrugged, looking sheepish. Hermione simply smiled and straightened her skirt as she settled in the chair. Her gaze though, had zeroed in on Ginny's necklace.

"You liked it," she guessed.

"I told him you would," Ron told his sister smugly. "Hermione didn't think you would."

"Oh, hush, Ron," Hermione said, waving her hand impatiently at him. She pulled a package from her robes and handed it to Harry. He opened it quickly.

"I thought it would help you with those potions you and Professor Snape are working on..." Her face fell as Harry's fingers tightened along the book's leather spine. "Did something happen while you were working together?" she asked tentatively. Ginny twisted around.

"What's wrong?" she asked quietly. Harry shook his head.

"Nothing," he assured them, as he let the ache spread through his chest a little. "My dad and I were brewing a special potion for Sirius right before...he died." Harry smiled a little at Hermione. "It's all right, Hermione. It's a great book. Thanks."

"Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to remind you-"

"It's all right," Harry said again. "I promise," he stressed. He let Ginny's hand curl around his. "It's good to remember him...it helps to make it less painful."

He wasn't sure he could explain what he meant, so he told them about his Christmas with his dad earlier that morning instead. About how he had watched anxiously, as his father slipped the last of the wrapping paper off the small box...

The paper fluttered gracefully to the floor. While butterflies stewed in the pit of his stomach, Severus lifted the lid. His silence sent Harry's butterflies into a flurry.

"I know it isn't traditional," Harry said quickly. "Ron told me that pureblood wizarding fathers usually give one to their sons on their seventeenth birthdays, and I know you don't have one..."

"That is one tradition my father did not adhere to," Severus said softly. He had lifted the watch gently from its soft bed; it was sweeping slowly back and forth from its shiny gold chain. "It is lovely," he said, his eyes following it as it moved.

Harry clasped his palms together. "The shopkeeper said they don't engrave watches...er, Muggles do, but he thought it was rather odd when I asked him...so I didn't think you'd mind."

Severus closed his fingers around the watch, as he glanced up. There was a small smile on his lips. "Thank you, Harry," he said gruffly.

Harry grinned. Ginny had told him right away that his father would like it, and if the way he was tucking it carefully into his waistcoat pocket--patting the full pocket twice--was any indication...

"I do hope you will be as pleased with your gift," Severus said, and then with a wave of his wand, a considerably larger box appeared in front of Harry--one that had not been included with the pile under the tree. "I did not wish you to peek," Severus explained seriously. Harry chuckled.

"Good thinking," he agreed. Noting that his dad's hands were clasped in a fashion that was eerily similar to the way Harry's had just been, he made quick work of unwrapping the gift. He lifted the lid and stared at the huge stone Pensieve. Confused, he looked up at Severus.

"A memory?" Hermione interrupted Harry's story. "Of..."

"Sirius, yeah," Harry answered, bobbing his head quickly. It was easier to say his name now, at least. "Sirius was getting me ready for bed." He shrugged at his friends' looks of confusion. "My dad didn't trust him to be alone with me. He was hiding under James' invisibility cloak," he explained. "It was when I was just a baby..."

"...down will come baby, cradle and all..." Sirius' grey eyes crinkled as he gazed down at little Harry.

"I know, Harry," he said soothingly, "I don't know why your mum sings that to you. It's a bit...well, morbid."

He grinned as Harry gurgled back at him.

"Your mum's great Harry, but she was raised by Muggles, you know. And I think whoever wrote that song was a bit touched in the head."

Standing next to his father, sixteen year-old Harry watched his godfather caressing his younger self's palm with a gentle finger.

Sirius laughed in delight as Harry's fist curled around his finger. "Tasty, is it?" he asked, still chuckling as baby Harry began gnawing at the tip of his finger. "Parents don't feed you enough, eh?"

"Don't worry, kiddo," Sirius said as the small green eyes gazed back at him earnestly. "When you start clearing out your mum and dad's kitchen, you come to your old godfather. I'll give you whatever you want." He winked. "I've got loads of sweets."

His tiny godson began chomping in earnest. Sirius laughed and bent his head to kiss Harry's forehead. "You'll have to wait, old boy. Your mum'll be up in minute, I promise."

"That's lovely, Harry," Hermione said as Harry took a breath; her eyes were shiny.

"And so nice of your dad to think of that," Ginny added, squeezing Harry's hand. Harry nodded.

It certainly had been a nice gift--especially because it had been so unexpected.

"My mum came in then," Harry said, smiling as he remembered the way his mum had brushed her fingers over his younger self's downy hair.

"Think he's hungry," Sirius told her, though he didn't relinquish his hold. "Aren't you, Harry?" He hoisted little Harry into the air, twisting him to and fro until his little charge squealed in delight. Sirius grinned at him. "Wait until you get a broom," he said as he brought Harry back down again.

"From me, of course," he said with a wink for Harry's mum. "And then you can really fly."

Lily grinned. "His father might want to buy his son his first broom," she told him as she scooped Harry into her arms. Sirius tweaked Harry's nose, trying to make him laugh once more.

"Godfather's privilege," he retorted to Lily as little Harry smiled.

"James is waiting for you downstairs," Lily told him, with an amused shake of her head.

James' head came around the door then, startling both Sirius and Lily, though little Harry smiled at the familiar face. "Let's go, Padfoot."

"Order business," Sirius told his godson gravely. "I'll tell you all about it when your mum's not around." He laughed at Lily's frown as Harry grabbed his finger once more. Sirius brought the tiny fist to his lips, and gave it a noisy kiss before he and James slipped out the door.

Harry smiled at Ron, who was looking a little gruff-throated as Harry finished detailing the memory his dad had given him. Harry didn't add that as soon as he and his dad had left the Pensieve, he'd hugged his father as tightly as he could. By the looks of him, Ron was sure to start bawling at that.

"Thanks for the photo," he said to his friend, giving Ron a distraction.

"Sure, mate," Ron said, sounding just as gruff as Harry had assumed he would. Harry hid his grin in Ginny's hair.

"And don't worry," Harry added when he was no longer about to laugh, "I'll be sure to tell my dad you were the one who took it."

Ron looked alarmed at that, until Ginny laughed, the light sound breaking the slightly melancholy mood in the room. Ron scowled at Harry, who chuckled. Hermione was smiling as well.

"Funny, Harry," Ron groused. "What did you get me, then?"

"I asked the twins to wrap something from their store. I let them pick," Harry said with a sly grin. "They said something about a new potion they were working on especially for little brothers."

Ron reached over and shoved Harry's shoulder.

"You're a riot, Harry," he said with appropriate sarcasm as Harry and Ginny snickered at him. But even Hermione was smiling, and Ron couldn't help but smile along with them now.

--

"Eet eez lovely, Molly," Fleur was saying as Harry and his friends came down the narrow staircase awhile later.

Harry smiled at his dad, who was standing next to Remus and Tonks, near the door to the parlor.

Fleur glanced at Bill, who looked rather bewildered. Fleur held up a tiny yellow jumper--it was embroidered with an L. "Eez eet for a doll?" Fleur asked curiously.

Mrs. Weasley looked around from the roast she was tending to. "Oh!" she said; her spoon clattered onto the counter. "Arthur, you gave her the wrong package!" she scolded her husband as she came around the counter. She snatched the jumper from Fleur's hands. With a wide smile, she handed it to Tonks. "That's for you, dear."

Tonks' cheeks immediately flushed.

Remus' brow furrowed; he looked just as confused as Bill had a moment ago. He took the jumper from Tonks' slack fingers. "What is it?" he asked. Mrs. Weasley's smile faltered.

"Ohh," she breathed in a disappointed tone. "I thought..."

Remus tilted his head. "You thought what?" He glanced back and forth between Mrs. Weasley and Tonks. Tonks, Harry noticed, had gone rather pale.

"I think mum thought Tonks was pregnant!" George chortled, though he abruptly shut his mouth at his mother's icy glare.

Remus' mouth fell open. His head whipped back to Tonks, who was staring at him with wide brown eyes. Remus couldn't seem to find his voice; the Weasleys' enchanted clock ticked loudly in the silent room.

Remus finally spoke, his voice nearly a whisper. "Is it..." he swallowed, "...I mean..." He took her upper arms in his hands, still gripping the tiny sweater, and pulled her slightly toward him. "Are you?" he breathed, his voice bubbling over with emotion.

There were tears glistening in Tonks' eyes. She drew in a shaky breath. "I didn't want to tell you before...Sirius, of course...and I thought..."

Harry wasn't certain what Tonks was trying to say, but either Remus did, or else it didn't matter, because he made a noise half-way between a whoop and a laugh, and pulled Tonks into his arms. He was patting her hair and babbling about how she could have kept something like this from him, all while grinning like a loon.

"You're happy then?" Harry heard Tonks ask tremulously. Remus pulled Tonks from his chest, his eyes incredulous.

"Happy?!" he echoed. "Of course am I!"

Tonks gave him a watery smile, and then she burst into noisy tears.

"Oh, I knew it!" Mrs. Weasley cried, clapping her hands delightedly. But before she could insinuate herself between the couple, Mr. Weasley took her arm.

"Perhaps we should go outside, Molly...give them some privacy?" he suggested in a low tone, and as he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance around the room at all the gawkers.

All the women in the room were smiling soppily, and didn't take notice of the gentle order. Harry was excited for his friend, but since Ron was staring at Tonks with a fair amount of disgust, Harry gave him a sharp poke between his shoulder blades to get him moving.

But it was the twins who finally got the little group to break up and head toward the backyard. "Come on," Fred called to Ron from the back door, "We never got to finish our snowball fight."

Ron brightened at that. "Come on, Harry," he urged. "You can be on our team."

"Fleur's a crack shot," Bill boasted to his little brothers, who all made faces at him. Bill just laughed and pulled Fleur outside with him.

"My dad makes a mean snowball," Hermione volunteered as she pulled a wooly brown cap over her curls.

"Well," Mr. Granger said, looking nervous, "I'm sure they didn't mean to include us, sweetheart."

"Our dad's on Bill's team," George said helpfully. "If you can make a snowball, you're in!"

Mr. Granger was allowed no more protests as Hermione dragged him outside. Mrs. Weasley was tsking as she straightened her colorful scarf. She took Mrs. Granger's arm, patting it comfortingly. "Now, don't worry," she said in tone that would be best suited to a frightened cat, "the enchanted snowballs will only throw him a few yards at the most..."

"What about you, Severus?" Arthur asked, smiling fondly at his wife's retreating back. "We could use another."

"I believe I would prefer to watch," Severus said, lip curling a bit.

"Sorry," Mr. Weasley said, shaking his head in a very serious way, "no spectators allowed for a Weasley Snowball War."

Severus raised an eyebrow, and then without warning, a large snowball landed with a sloppy squelch against the side of his head.

Harry, Ginny, and Mr. Weasley, still standing close by, stared as Severus froze; the wet snow slid beneath his collar before he had recovered enough to wipe a slow hand down the side of his face. Most of it was left behind.

"Er..."

Everyone turned to Ron, who was staring at Severus with huge eyes.

"...sorry, sir," he stammered. "I meant that for Harry..."

And seeing Ron standing there, quaking and his father with a face full of slush--the rest of the Weasleys looking between the two nervously, well Harry couldn't help it. He burst out laughing.

He only laughed harder as his dad turned slowly to him, half his lifted eyebrow obscured by snow.

"You find that amusing, do you?" Severus inquired, in a tone that was rumored to plague the firsties with nightmares.

"Very," Harry told him, still chuckling. "You look like a melting snowman."

"Is that so?"

Harry didn't see his dad so much as twitch his hand, but a second later, Harry was gasping as several handfuls-worth of snow were dumped on his head.

"Hey!" Harry sputtered. He scrambled to brush the freezing wet off his face as quickly as he could. "That's cold!" he protested.

"It's snow, you prat!"

Harry glared at Ron, who was looking much too confident from where he stood, so far away from Harry and Severus; and laughing.

"Ron's the one who pelted you!" Harry said, turning back to his father. "Why don't you dump snow on his head?" he groused as a few icy droplets shivered down his back.

Severus' eyes glinted in amusement. He raised his wand. Glancing at both Ginny and Harry, he asked, "Shall we?"

Harry and Ginny grinned. As they raised their wands beside Severus', Ron and the twins made a mad dash for the low garden wall.

"Traitor!" Ron cried as he leapt toward safety.

"Now," Harry said with a smirk, and three very impressive snowballs sailed over the wall.