On the first day of Christmas

“Well, now that dinner is done.” Albus said about an hour later, standing as his gray bear fell onto the table in front of him, rather ungracefully. “I believe some festivities are in order.”

This was Snape’s cue. At the mere sound of ‘festivities’ the hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he prepared to rise from his chair. Dumbledore saw this and shot him a look of irritation at interrupting his speech and so, obligated he sat down again.

Hermione watched as he crossed his arms over his chest, scowling and sat there like he had a back brace looking out under hooded eyes at anyone who rudely looked his way. None dared.

“We could start with carols.”

Groans all around from students and professors alike and at that and Albus playfully chuckled. “Fine fine. We’ll save the carols for later.” His light eyes twinkled merrily and he reminded Hermione of Santa himself, he had the right look and disposition.

“I suppose nss tss the orange?”

“NO!” came the collective howl from all around, after lasts years fiasco at the Thanksgiving feast the orange pass was later referred to as ‘the incident’. Dumbledore laughed at this too, wiping the corners of his eyes and said in a cheery voice.

“Fine…how about…charades?”

There wanervnervous laugh and finally a dejected “Fine.” From all around, this was better than anything else Albus would suggest. Albus nodded and motioned for them all to stand and suddenly the food and table was gone, replaced now with a large chair in the middle. Dumbledore seated himself in it, and said boisterously.

“Now, divide into house teams…I understand some Professors missing so…we’ll do it this way. Slytherins with Professor Snape, Gryffindor with Professor McGonagall, Hufflepuffs with Madame Hooch and lastly, Ravenclaw with Professor Sprout. Come come now, don’t be shy, go to your temporary Heads of houses. Chop chop!”

Snape slid over to a jovial Dumbledore, his back arched and black eyes glittering malevolently. “Surely your must be jesting, Albus.” He purred, looking to Dumbledore with a sort of concealed panic. “You know I do not partake in such…activities.”

“Oh, I don’t jest Severus.” Dumbledore said with a mischievous wink, “In fact I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.

“I respectfully decline.”

Albus nodded, he had seen this one coming. “Well Severus if you don’t play, I believe I’ll have a much easier time deciding as to who will receive the Defense against the Dark Arts position next term.”

There was a stunned silence, as Snape looked to Albus, in complete and utter shock. Had he heard right? Had he just been…blackmailed?

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

Silence between the two followed a moment the only sounds were the groups away from them laughing and planning. Finally Snape looked to the normally cheery Albus, horrified.

He turned on his heel and just as Dumbledore was looking away Snape caught his eyes as he made his way over to his rowdy Slytherins, passing the Gryffindors group. Dumbledore was turning to look away when he distinctly saw Snape and Hermione lock eyes, it seemed an eternity before Hermione finally tore her eyes away, leaving Severus still glancing after her and then turning to his group and barking out commands.

“Listen up you dunderheads.” Snape hissed, looking to each of his dutiful followers with disdain. How was he to win this competition when he openly despised such things? He was about to continue on his angry speech when Albus suddenly called out.

“Staff and students.” Said his dry voice, laced with vicious mirth. “I’ve decided on a little change of plans for this event.”

What?

More groaning ensued and Albus waited until it died down before speaking again. “I’ve decided to switch this game up a bit, take out the doldrums of it.”

They were now eager, looking to the Headmaster with eager interest…all except for Snape who looked utterly disenchanted and Hermione who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.

“Would the Heads of houses please step forward.”

Four Professors stepped out, looking uncertainly to one another. Albus clapped his hands in anticipation. “Now. Madame Hooch, would you please step over to the Ravenclaw house?”

He wouldn’t.

“And…Professor Sprout if you wouldn’t mind moving over to the Hufflepuff sector …yes, right there will do.”

He couldn’t.

“Professor McGonagall, would you mind…yes, the Slytherin house.”

He had.

Snape groaned inwardly, knowing what was to come as he saw his other colleagues go to their new respective houses. He didn’t wait for Albus’ orders but merely walked over to the Gryffindor group…including a now very flustered Hermione Granger.

He gave the group a severe glare as he rounded about them, looking at them individually and making sure his stare was scathing. Finally his eyes settled on Hermione…sweet, naïve now very flustered Hermione.

“Ewww…” Ron muttered beside Hermione, she looked to him with an inquiring face. Ron wrinkled his nose as he replied, “Snape’s staring at you.”

Hermione went pale and looked awkwardly over to Snape who was now looking to all of them, “Listen here your brats.” He said looking to a nervous first year in particular. “It doesn’t matter what house I’m in charge of, I demand a win.”

Harry thought of if it would have been much of an asset to have Snape as a Head of House. Quidditch matches would have been more nerve wracking than usual. Snape was still talking, making sure that they knew just how serious he was. And he was. If he was going to be captain of the S.S. Goody-two-shoes he was going to make sure they weren’t going to sink. He could practically see McGonagall laughing at him from her new Slytherin group.

“Time is up. We shall now begin!” Albus was moving he and his chair via his wand, until he reached the edge of the circle. “Each member from the respective teams shall pick a small slip of parchment from this box.” A black box suddenly appeared on the floor in front of him,

“You have until the hour glass ends to guess the answer to your teammates actions. No speaking, props or anything of the sort are permitted.”

Snape rolled his eyes, what was the bloody point? It’s not as if this were worth anything. Suddenly as if Dumbledore read his thoughts he continued.

“The winning group of this game shall receive a new issued award, The Winter Cup.”

Suddenly a small gold cup appeared at the base of Dumbledore’s chair and Snape’s eyes flickered with sudden greed. Albus certainly knew how to persuade his staff.

The Gryffindors could practically see him polishing the trophy in his classroom. Greasy git. He gave them a menacing look over his shoulder before looking back to Dumbledore. At least he’d only have to supervise.

“There is no cheating permitted, and believe me we will know. Points will be given out to participation by students…AND professors. If only one participate, severe points will be taken off.”

Damn.

Albus now picked a piece of parchment from his lap and with a smile read out,

“Due to our draw, Ravenclaw will be first. BEGIN!”

Somewhere a bell clanged and a young Ravenclaw stepped tentatively into the ring, looking around at her peers with fear. They nodded emphatically, egging her on. She walked over to the chair, pulled out a piece of parchment and sighed, near tears.

She held up two fingers, sighing once more.

“TWO WORDS!”

Yes.

She walked into the middle of the ring, looking to her teammates and offering a small shrug. She then in a moment of embarrassment she began to shift from side to side looking around to her teammates in frantic panic.

“SHAKE!”

Nope.

“SWING!”

Nope.

The Ravenclaw team shouted out random words, hoping they were right. The young girl, whom was later found to be named Sarah Figgins, finally could be seated as the last grain of the hourglass (which was only three minutes) finally stopped.

“Does anyone know the answer?” Albus asked from his perch, slipping another raspberry chocolate into his eager mouth. Resound silence, Snape sighed…this was going to take forever.

“Jingle bells?” a Slytherin-Gryffindor asked looking to Albus with irritation.

Albus nodded, “TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!”

All the Gryffindor-Slytherin’s groaned collectively, save for Snape of course; he was much too mature for that. Instead he glared at his former house student, telling him internally that he was in for deep trouble.

Almost an hour later…

Gryffindor was in the lead, Slytherin was close behind and Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were tied for third.

Everyone was growing weary and now a small Hufflepuff had stepped into the ring, he was shaking and almost everyone felt sorry for him. The winner from their group had chosen him to go up next…poor bloke.

He held up four shaking fingers, the third word was ‘the’.

He held his hands in front of him as if reading a muggle newspaper and moving his mouth exaggerated. Hufflepuff members began yelling things like “READING!” or “CHANTING!”

All of which were wrong, evidently. The poor boy shook his head vigorously, and raised another hand all the fingertips touching as if he were holding a pencil and about to drop it. He shook his hand and all his group mates looked at each other confused.

“TIME! Does anyone else care to guess?”

There was a moment of silence as the poor Hufflepuff went back to his understanding teammates. Snape sighed, he sure didn’t know these idiotic Muggle rhymes, but he knew he hated them. They were never going to win at this rate…

“Carol of the bells?” asked a familiar voice from his group, it was Hermione. Snape looked to her fondly a brief moment, hoping her guessing the right answer would mask the gaze.

“Correct Hermione.” Albus said with a clap of his hands, “And since you got it correctly, you may choose any member from your group to go up next.”

Hermione Granger, a normally sweet and intelligent young woman suddenly had on her face the most devious smirk the whole of Hogwarts had ever seen.

“Any member, sir?”

“Any member, Miss Granger.” Albus added with a good-natured wink. Hermione tried not to laugh as she contemplated her next answer.

“I pick, Professor Snape.”


There was a collective gasp from all around the room, and Snape who had tried to busy himself with ignoring Hermione was now whirled around in his chair and gaping at Hermione.

‘Stop gaping Professor,’ Hermione thought devilishly, ‘You look like an overgrown fish.’

Snape looked back over to Dumbledore, giving him a look of utter passive anger. “Headmaster…”

“Don’t waste time Severus. You’ve only three minutes, starting when you come onto the podium.” Albus said with a suddenly smirk on his normally serene face.

Snape gave one last miserable glare in a giggling Hermione, before he slid over to the black box, kneeling, reading it and standing again, looking to Albus in horror.

“I won’t do it.”

“Severus M’boy, be a good sport.” He leaned down a bit so that only Snape could hear and added in a grave whisper, “If you don’t I’m afraid I’ll have to teach Defense against the Dark Arts, myself.”

He leaned back up and Snape whirled around, oh that Hermione Granger was going to pay. Hermione herself was smirking in a way that was very Slytherin, ‘One point for me.’ She thought evilly.

Well, if you’ve ever wondered what it was like to sit and watch Severus Snape himself stand in front of everyone and get madder and madder with every wrong answer brought forth in the game of charades, its an interesting experience to say the least.

He started with the basics, five fingers signaling five words, second word ‘the’.

He stood looking to his group of dunderheads, seeing glimpses of Hermione near the back giggling with Ron and Harry. He felt himself grow angry and he wanted nothing more than to win this cup. Minerva would never let him forget it if he didn’t.

He sighed deeply, his stomach in knots. He proceeded then with two minutes left in the hourglass to inform them non-verbally that the fifth word was the following: He put his hands behind his head like big bunny ears, and stood there rigid.

“Err…a rabbit?” a second year Ravenclaw offered. Bah, so much for Ravenclaw knowledge.

When no one said anything more he bowed his head a bit, and wriggled his fingers. This only confused the morons further and he stood at alignment once more.

He held up his four fingers, glancing around at his group and pointed to his nose. Well, there was no holding back there…

“CROOKED!”

“BIG!”

“GREASY!”

“NOSE?”

Snape’s attention drew up to who had spoken, it had been Hermione herself looking to Snape with pity. This had been a bad idea. He nodded his head weakly, nose was correct so far and with one minute left they had;

____ the _____ nose _______.

Not too impressive, and Snape didn’t look to impressed with anything around him, or anyone. He looked ready to explode. He contemplated what else he could do when Albus suddenly rang out “FINISHED!”

Snape retired to his seat, his anger boiling and his pride smashed against the rocks. Hermione didn’t look at him…she couldn’t.

“Can anyone guess what it was for ten extra points?” Albus asked merrily.

“RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER!” screamed a young Hufflepuff. All the current Slytherins were laughing so hard tears streamed down their cheeks…save for Hermione. She was angry…why couldn’t she just enjoy her victory? Why did she have to feel sorry for him?

Suddenly a large bell sounded around them, signaling the end of the tournament. “Gryffindor is the winner with the most points…But..”

McGonagall nodded bashfully at the applause all around, mostly from her original team as she signaled them to stop their cheering.

“But one Professor had enough courage to get up and play himself, and for that I give his house twenty extra points, putting Slytherin in first place.”

Snape turned around looking to Hermione with a smirk before rising and collecting his trophy, looking to a suddenly furious Minerva.

“You may return to your houses students.” Albus said faintly over the uproar.

With much laughing and relief they went back to their respective Head of Houses, flocking like children to their parents. They were safe again. The Slytherins and Snape were obviously excited and jeering anyone whom passed them.

“Since you’ve all been such good sports,” Albus said looking to all of them from the middle of the suddenly bare Great Hall, “I’ve decided on a little Christmas cheer.”

Suddenly the hall was lit with millions of multi-colored Christmas lights, Christmas music sprang from nowhere and suddenly rows and rows of tables had tons of desserts. One Christmas song in particular stood out to the students and Professors’ of Hogwarts…

“Rudolph the red nosed reindeer….
Had a very shiny nose….
And if you ever saw it…”

Everyone erupted into laugher…all except for Snape evidently. Hermione laughed uproariously at this with Harry and Ron as Snape rolled his eyes and downed some butterbeer. She didn’t feel bad for him anymore…he’d won the cup now. The game was still on.

After only a half an hour and several butterbeer’s later Hermione yawned and informed Ron and Harry that she was retiring to her chambers.

“But Mione…” Harry said frantically, “You’re present’s almost here!”

Hermione rolled her eyes, “I can open it in the morning.”

“No.” Ron said seriously, “Actually you can’t.”

“Any why not?”

“Just believe us…please ‘Mione.”

Hermione sighed loudly, pulling her arms from their even grasps and nodded resignedly, “Fine. Can I at least go and grab a potion for my head, from my room?”

Harry and Ron shot each other looks and then Harry nodded with a commanding, “I suppose. But be quick.”

“Okay dad.” Hermione rolled her eyes, walking off to her room, purposefully ignoring anyone who called her name. She had reached the entrance of the hall when a familiar scent of sandalwood reached her and she whirled around.

He looked surprised that she knew he was there, but masked it well.

“Oh, good evening Professor.” Hermione said, opting to be as polite as possible. No point in getting points taken from Gryffindor. He wasn’t speaking though, he was leaning against the doorframe and smirking openly at her.

“I just wanted to thank you, Miss Granger.” Snape said smirking and staring at her maliciously.

“I can’t image what about.” Hermione said looking to him exasperated.

“Why, for the win of course. Without your little plan, I never would have won the Winter cup.” He held it up for her to see at that moment.

Hermione scowled at him, preparing to say something rude when thankfully Albus strode over, looking to them with a deliriously happy look on his face.

“Oohhhhhh…time for a little tradition!” Albus said with a grin and a laugh, looking above the two of them. Hermione followed his gaze and then sighed deeply.

“Bollocks.” Hermione said, covering her face with her hands, trying to hide her face as much as possible. Snape looked to her bemused, but had to admit he hadn’t the faintest what Albus was talking about.

“What are you on about Headmaster?” Snape said almost hissing he’d had enough humiliation for one evening thank you very much.

“Why you’re both standing under the mistletoe.”