15

3,778Chapter 15: Christmas Shopping

Rule #27: First way they don't notice you. Second way they always notice you. -NCIS

Chapter 15: Christmas Shopping

Dear Master,

My father has taken our family to the beach this Christmas holiday, and I found you a shell I think you will like. Its colour is just like your fur including the tabby markings, and I couldn't help but think of you.

Do professors get out for the holiday as well? Or are you required to stay at Hogwarts for those that must stay? I hope you are having time to relax regardless of where you are.

My meditations are going well. I think you will be happy with my progress upon my return after holiday. I hope so, anyway.

The beach sand here is almost so white that it's like snow that never melts. The water takes on this beautiful shade of blue and green that is distinctly not like Black Lake. You can smell the salt in the air even from beyond the dunes, and it is such a wild sensation. I wonder, perhaps, what it would be like to be a seabird, gliding along above the surf, or one of the ocean denizens, swimming in the ocean's waters like a bird would in the air.

I also picked you up a few perfectly round, black stones from the coast sand bar. Severus and my younger brother, Regulus helped me find them. We piled a ton of them on the shore and picked out the most uniform ones for you. You mentioned that you have been meaning to make a natural rune set, but haven't had the time to gather the stones. I hope you don't find it presumptuous of us to gather them for you. We had a lot of fun doing it, and if they will not suit your purposes as runes, perhaps you can use them to decorate your water garden in your office. I tested to see if Sagacity is capable of carrying the stones as well as the shell, and he seems determined to do so. I've never known an owl such as he. I'm so happy he wanted to come with me on that afternoon before taking the Hogwarts Express.

I hope you have a very happy Christmas, my Master.

Sincerely, your Apprentice,

Hermione Black (her seal, the phoenix)

-o-o-o-o-o-

It was well into the dark of night when Hermione stirred to the feeling of someone snuggling under the covers with her. Her brother's scent, which somehow always smelled of dog and cinnamon, told her who it was even before she opened her eyes. She relaxed.

Sirius, much like the prodigal, returned to her side as he always did, taking comfort from her presence like a dog returning to the house after darting out the front gate and roaming the city for days only to return weeks later to abase themselves on return home.

Being at Hogwarts had, of course, prevented the "normal" reconciliation that happened between the twins. It usually always ended this way, with him pressed against her back snuggling into her as though they were still in the womb together. The connection was undeniable between them. No matter how much he "ran" from his family, they had shared the same mother at the same time, pressed together in an intimacy before they were even born. He would, rarely if ever of course, admit that he missed her out loud. This was, perhaps, his only tried and true indicator of need or want to make things good between them. He sought her familiar scent and presence as he would seek a missing part of himself as if realising that in his quest to distance himself from the family to "be his own person" he had tried to cut off his arm to spite his face. Whatever comfort he was getting from his friendship with the young James Potter and Peter Pettigrew must have filled some gaping hole he desperately sought to fill, but for the life of her, she could not made sense of what.

She wanted to understand because she wanted to understand her brother, but since he wasn't exactly forthcoming on the reason, all she was doing was spinning her proverbial wheels in speculation. That part of her that was Hermione Granger, liked to chew on reasons well into the night, but the part that was the twin of Sirius Black simply wanted to feel that closeness with her twin she had always had.

It wasn't the same feeling she felt when snuggled with Remus and Severus on Tuft's moon days. That intimacy and closeness of choice was not the same. What she had with the werewolf and her wizard friend was growing and evolving into something greater than themselves, but it was still forming, growing, and finding itself.

Her connection with Sirius had started before they were born and was as undeniable as the shift in seasons or the rising of the sun. And, at that particular moment, the shift brought him back to her as if to apologise for shunning her the entire day for his other friends.

She couldn't quite blame him entirely. She hadn't exactly sought him out when Severus, Lily, and Remus were around. Were they really any different? Hermione pondered if the real problem she had was who he was affiliating with rather than the fact that he wanted to be with his friends. Relationships were complicated.

"Let's build a sandcastle," Sirius whispered, tugging on her nightshirt.

Hermione grinned.

The both of them slipped out of the bed and sneaked out of the lodging house with him back to the beach, their bare feet making hardly a sound. By the time they reached the sand, they started to run down the beach in the moonlight, giggling.

Sand flew in all directions and Hermione and Sirius got down on all fours and shove led out the sand to make the base of the castle. Sirius kicked sand out of the area in a flurry of hands and feet.

"Agh! Canis!" Hermione shoved her shoulder into him as he kicked up sand into her in his enthusiasm. "You're such a dog."

Sirius laughed, turning a little to aim the sand somewhere else.

They built up the walls together, using shells to fortify the sides and driftwood to make a framework for the walls. Hermione held the walls up as Sirius pressed in from the outside, building up the miniature castle wall by wall.

By the time the pair had built it up, The "miniature" castle was big enough to be its own playhouse.

"Bigger than our last one, Hermione!" Sirius laughed, propping up a piece of drift wood as a flag pole and hanging seaweed from it like a banner.

"I can't wait to show dad in the morning," Hermione laughed.

"If it survives the tide coming in," Sirius pouted.

"Awww," Hermione whined. "We put in so much work."

"We should get back before dad wakes up," Sirius grunted as he slammed his hands down on the side of the castle to pack the sand down.

"I just want to clear out the inside here a little more before I go in," Hermione said, pushing out more sand from the inside.

"Ok, I'm going to go sneak back in, hopefully that will keep dad unaware of our mischief," Sirius snickered.

"Since when does dad not know about our mischief, really?" Hermione smirked. "He's probably waiting on the porch for us to get back.

Sirius pouted. "We've gotten better at sneaking."

"Better, but dad is better," Hermione smirked.

"Okay, okay," Sirius placated. "At least we can keep Regulus from complaining that we sneaked out without him."

Hermione laughed. "Sure. I'll give you that."

"Don't turn into a raisin, sis," Sirius warned. "The tide is coming in and it's getting kind of chilly."

"I won't, Canis," Hermione said. "I just have a little more to do and I'll be right up after you. She grinned at him through the sand portcullis.

Sirius laughed and it was a genuine smile on his face. This was the twin she remembered growing up with, and it was like meeting an old friend.

Her twin stuck a flag made of driftwood and seaweed into the ground near their project and scampered off up the dunes back to the lodging house.

It took about a half hour of smoothing and shuffling, but Hermione was happy with the inside of the sand castle. She hoped it would survive so her father, Regulus, and Severus could see their handiwork.

She heard the footsteps approaching before she saw the shadows moving outside the castle. "Forget something, brother?"

"Snake in a trap, eh Peter?"

"Yeah," Peter's snicker caused her hair to stand on end. Her wand was back in a truck back at the lodge. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Even with the trace, they would forgive her for self defence. She didn't even think of taking her wand with her when she and her twin had come out to play in the sand. Where were the battle hardened reflexes and paranoia? Obviously still back at sleep at the lodge…

Clack. Clack.

Stones hit the side of their sand castle, pinging of the sides, sending cascades of sand down upon her from the roof of the castle. All of her work with her twin was coming down on her head.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

"Going to come out, snake?"

"Just going to sit in there and let it come down on you? Like a good little self-preservation Slytherin?"

Clack. Kick. Clack. Kick. Clack. Whoosh.

Sand was coming down on on her head from above.

"Slither on out, why don't you, little snake?"

Hermione felt the anger build in her at the name calling. Once she had been degraded and called low because she was Gryffindor. Now she was being taunted because she was Slytherin. She was tired of being the one targeted for not being whatever it was that someone else wanted.

Clack. Clack. Pain.

She touched her forehead. Blood trickled down her forehead where one of the stones they were throwing to take down the castle hit her.

The sand above her shuddered, and the entire ceiling collapsed on top of her with a crash.

"Heh, so much for your castle, snake. Shoddy workmanship."

"Come on, Peter," James laughed. "Tide is coming in. We wouldn't want to get wet."

The pair left the pile of wet sand and shells, stones and seaweed, and one lone Slytherin witch to the tide.

Hermione's head burst up from the pile of sand, spitting out sand and a shell. Her grey eyes had gone the colour of silver, filled with the flickers of fire that spread until her eyes were pure flames.

Suddenly, a flutter of wings broke her out of her seething anger, and Sagacity landed on the sand pile. He hooted with concern, thunking his head into her face.

"Sagacity," Hermione said. "Thank Merlin. Please, get help. I can't move my arms. The sand is too heavy."

The huge eagle owl was trying hard to dig her out, but only managed to free her head a little more. He hooted in distress.

"Please, Sagacity," Hermione pleaded. "Hurry."

The eagle owl hooted and took off, flying back over the dunes towards the lodge.

Hermione closed her eyes in relief. Sagacity would get her help. The weight of the sand was making it hard to breath, and the rising tide was weighing it down even more around her body. She tried to focus her thoughts so she didn't need to breathe quite so frantically.

In a few minutes, her breathing was calm, and footsteps came down from the dune.

"Hermione!"

Hands started to dig her out.

"Severus," Hermione whispered. "Sirius."

"Hold on," her twin said. "We'll get you out."

The sand around her finally fell away, and she tumbled out of the pile on top of the two young wizards.

"Hermione, what happened?" Sirius asked.

Severus asked nothing. His arms were full of shivering witch, and it drove whatever questions he might have had to the wayside.

Hermione just shook her head, saying nothing, but clinging to the both of them as she shivered.

There was a low hooting, and the two wizards looked up to see the dark figure of Orion Black running down the dune with a robe in his arms and a mage light following him as Sagacity clung to his shoulder, hooting distress.

"My chick," he said softly, kneeling in the sand. He wrapped the robe around his wet daughter and took her into his arms, lifting her so she wrapped her arms around his neck. Hoisting her up so he could walk, he carried her back up the dunes without a word, Severus and Sirius following behind like lost puppies.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Hermione, what happened?" Sirius asked.

Hermione snuggled into the robe as the sun warmed her on the porch. She looked like she wanted to say something, but bit her lip, and turned her head away.

"Come on, sis," Sirius pleaded. "Please, tell us."

Hermione took in a deep breath. "Potter and Pettigrew," she said softly. "They came after you left. Called me a snake. Starting throwing things at the castle and kicking it. The roof collapsed and fell on me, then they left."

Both wizard's faces darkened, but it was Sirius who said, "No, they wouldn't do that. You're my sister. They wouldn't just… Not when… NO!" He stood up, his fists clenched.

Hermione, seeing his disbelief, turned her head away. Staring at the nearby retaining wall.

Severus seemed to be fighting something he wanted to say and finally gave up. "Why would she make it up?"

"I don't know!" Sirius said with a glare. "Maybe because she's never liked my choice in friends!"

Hermione snapped her head up and gave Sirius such a heartbroken look that he immediately regretted his words, but it was too late. Hermione stood up, pulled the robe around her tightly, and stormed over to where Orion Black was keeping company with Sagacity as he wrote a letter with a large feather quill.

"Hermione, wait," Sirius started. "Her—damnit." Sirius clenched his fists and turned on his heels and stormed the other direction.

Severus took in a deep breath, stood up, and walked over to where Hermione was and sat down next to her.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Hermione knew she should have kept her mouth shut as to what had happened, but she had taken the risk in the belief that her brother would have believed her in her description of what had happened. The moment the story had come from her lips, her brother had reacted much as she would have if someone had accused Harry of being anything less than a good person. No one wants to learn that someone they hold as a friend is a less than shining example, and she knew she was no exception to the rule. She had put up with less than stellar behaviour from Ron for years before she finally threw in the towel, and Harry had continued to be friends with Ron long after she and Ron had parted ways. Relationships were so… complicated.

Hermione was crushed. In the course of a few hours, her reconciliation with her twin had gone 180 degrees in the opposite direction, and it seemed that they were doomed to fight, make up, fight, and make up. A part of her wondered when the fight would end and the make up would not occur. She dreaded that.

Severus, to his credit, offered up silent comfort rather than sagely advice, not that she expected grand relationship advice from him. She could tell that he was irritated with her twin, and while he knew that she cared for her brother, a part of him dismissed his behaviour as blazingly Gryffindor. There was a time, he would have probably been shocked to know, when she was abhorrently Gryffindor.

Her father, who made himself busy writing letters nearby, was keeping one eye on his traumatised daughter. He made it look like he was preoccupied, but Hermione knew better. Her father was anything but an idiot. He knew what had happened without asking, literally seeing the tracks in the sand leading away from the demolished sand castle. He didn't need to ask. He didn't ask for names, nor did he have to. All he had to do was watch when Sirius walked by with his friends and then observe his daughter's stiffened posture, averted gaze, and smoldering fury to figure out that something was amiss.

After about an hour or so, the sun was baking down upon the beach once more and it was warm enough to resume the epic sand construction once more. This time, however, Hermione had Severus and Regulus with her, and the trio moved down towards the beach together. Orion stayed with them, making sure they stayed in sight of him and his shade umbrella. They built large sand creatures in the beach sand as their second day's project. Regulus dreamt large and constructed a dragon sleeping against the dune. Severus made a sleeping wolf that looked quite a bit like a certain Tuft, and Hermione carved out a sleeping three-headed dog complete with harp and trapped door.

Both Severus and Regulus looked at Hermione like she had three of her own heads, perhaps wondering where the inspiration for that particular creature had sprung from. She gave them a gallant shrug.

By the time lunch rolled around, Hermione had bounced back to her more cheerful self. The food sever brought them all drinks with magically charmed iceburgs complete with christmas trees, polar bears, and snow seals.

"Happy almost Christmas, children," Orion said, saluting them with his polar bear infested drink. The polar bear on his drink swatted Orion's beard as he drank from the glass, sending a puff of snow into the elder Black's face.

The children giggled, and Orion arched a wiggled his brows at his children and Severus.

"The gift shoppes are all open, children. Do you wish to hunt for your Christmas presents?" Orion said, knowing what the response would be.

Regulus tackled his father in a hug. "Can we go now?"

"Hrm," Orion said, looking upward. "I don't know. I'm feeling kind of tired all of the sudden."

"Pleaaaaaase, Father!" Regulus begged. He puffed out his bottom lip in a perfect pout.

Orion tilted back his head and guffawed. "Fine, I suppose. All of you go change into your socially acceptable clothing so you do not embarrass me in public," he said with a smirk. "And pack your trunks so we can port out after we are done. We have a white Christmas to attend to back home."

Regulus gave a whoop of victory and scampered off to the room to change.

As Hermione and Severus got up to follow, Orion put a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Daughter," he said softly.

Hermione looked up into her father's silver eyes.

"There are times when we must stand by our friends because we believe in them," Orion said softly. "There are other times when we must do so because to do otherwise is a slight of honour. Rare and precious is the time when those we stand by are tried and true, loyal unto death, and worth all the pain in the world to do so. Sometimes we must be terribly lucky that our first choice is the right one, and no one wants to believe that those they have put their faith in are, in fact, not worthy of our devotion."

Orion pressed his lips to her forehead in a gently kiss. "Forgive your brother his weaknesses and his stubborn loyalty," her father said softly. "His loyalty is his weakness and perhaps one of his greatest strengths. There will come a time when he realises that you have always been there for him, and he will be ashamed and insecure. You must be better than that which your twin seems to think we are. You are a Black, of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black. While your brother tries to run from everything that means acknowledging his birthright, I know in your heart you do not run. You not fear. Some may think such traits are Gryffindor, but I know better. The ultimate Slytherin protects what is theirs, and unlike Gryffindor, we do not hide what we believe is ours until false platitudes. We built our alliances because it benefits us. We protect what we desire, whether it be friend or family or an idea."

Orion brushed his daughter's curls from her face. "The key to winning is having an idea that swallows up your enemy and makes them your ally. Make them want what you have so badly that they are willing to see your way of thinking. Let them willingly follow you into the fire. Fear will only inspire loyalty for so long. Love, my young chick, will inspire the very mountains to move and a loyalty that stays unto death."

"Do we have an understanding, my phoenix?" Orion asked softly.

Hermione said nothing but flung her arms around her father's neck and buried her face into his neck.

Orion pulled her to him, bracing her head against him and closing his eyes. He patted her gently. "Go wash up and change, my daughter. There are shoppes just waiting for your perusal."

Hermione pulled back and kissed her father's cheek, took Severus by the hand, and dragged him off with her.

Orion smiled as he watched them leave together. "You have chosen well in your first chevalier, my young chick. If only your twin could be so fortunate." He turned to watch his wayward son baking himself under the hot sun with his friends from school. He squared his shoulders and set off to collect his son for the shopping trip.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Don't forget to save some for yourself, young Severus," Orion said with a rumble, extending his hand with a small leather pouch.

Severus Snape stared at the bag of coins that Orion Black was handing him with wide eyes. He had given one to each of his children, and he extended the same courtesy in doing so for Severus with the tilt of his head that brokered no refusal.

Severus took it reverently, bowing his head with the respect to both his elder and person of his station, but Orion simply nodded casually with the same warmth he gave his own children.

When Severus was far enough away as to not look like a guilty thief examining his loot sack after a robbery, he peered into the coin purse with amazement. There were galleons inside. Galleons! More galleons that he had ever been given for anything, including the days he went shopping for his school supplies in Diagon Alley. Even the little leather pouch that carried the coins was beyond anything he had ever had to carry his meagre sickles and knuts in.

Hermione was magnetically drawn to the bookstore like a moth to flame, and both he and Regulus followed after her, paying close attention to which books her fingers lingered on and which books she turned her nose up at.

There were so many books in this particular shop that it seemed more like a library, and Severus couldn't help the sense of wonder at many of them. As he touched a few of them, part of him expected Madam Pince to come flying around the corner to crack his knuckles and tell him to keep his dirty hands off the restricted section.

Regulus nudged him. Severus saw him put his hand behind his back and point towards a book on the shelf and then dragged Hermione off to some obscure part of the bookstore, proclaiming there was a book she had to see.

Severus lifted a brow and approached the shelf. There was a book that Regulus had pulled out just a little bit more than the others in passing: Myth as Reality: A Study of the Beasts Muggles Think Don't Exist. Severus smirked. Hermione would like reading something like that for "light reading."

He snatched the book off the shelf and took it to the cashier swiftly, hiding himself behind the line of other people. The helpful wizard behind the counter gift wrapped the book with a flick of his wand, and summoned a rack of bookplates and present labels.

Severus pointed to the emerald and silver ribbon as the wizard began to wrap the ornate paper with ties. He plucked a bookplate with long plumed birds on it that looked similar to a certain phoenix he knew. Attempting to make his handwriting a little more legible, he wrote a small note and signed it, looking up to see Regulus bounding towards him with a grin on his face.

The youngest Black sidled up to him, grasped a quill, and quickly wrote his own note on the book plate and card. He grinned at Severus, shaking out a few coins from his pouch to split the cost between them, and scampered off to "occupy" his sister again.

"Do you wish this to be delivered on Christmas morning?" the elder wizard asked with a smile.

"Yes, please," Severus said with a quirk of his lips.

"Very well, please put the name and residence on this card, and we will make sure it is delivered on time," the wizard said with a smile.

Severus carefully wrote "Hermione Black, Black Estate, 12 Grimmauld Place, London."

The wizard smiled at him, tucking the parcel away for delivery, and took his coins in payment for the book. "Happy Christmas," the wizard said cheerfully.

Severus wrestled with his expression, unsure what to do. Christmas was not exactly cheerful at his family residence. He gave a small smile in reply, just enough to gain a smile and nod from the older wizard and then shuffled away, feeling quite embarrassed.

Orion was watching him from the front of the store, his silver eyes flashing with amusement. He nodded to Severus in approval before going back to keep a watchful eye on his daughter and youngest son.

As Severus moved to check out the nearby store, Orion placed hand on his shoulder. "There is a wondrous clothing store across the street with winter cloaks, despite the fact that you would not need them here. The clothiers are top notch. Even if you do not get something for yourself, well, I know Regulus has coveted his sister's for quite some time."

Severus smirked at the tip. He nodded his head in thanks. Orion patted him and went back to his vigil watching over his children.

The clothiers was amazing. Robes both formal and casual draped over every nook and cranny. Fabrics of every texture and colour flowed from bolts on the walls. Enchanted scissors and tapes floated in the air, snipping, cutting, measuring fabric as enchanted needles stitched away. There were school uniforms for various magical schools—he recognised the furred cloaks of Durmstrang and the gossamer robes of Beauxbatons—scattered around the store. In one niche was the garb of Hogwarts, and in another was something that did not seem as familiar. He fingered the tag. American uniform. It looked somewhat strange to him, so unlike the uniform of Hogwarts that it barely even looked like a uniform at all.

He found a lined woollen outer travelling cloak that seemed perfect for the colder weather. The fabric was thick, but surprisingly light. His fingers tingled with the warming and cooling enchantments sewn into the fabric.

Severus found one of Regulus' size and pulled it off the rack. It bore the inner lining of the Slytherin House, but the Hogwarts' House insignia was not emblazoned on it. It would be perfect for Regulus, and when the time came, and he was undoubtedly sorted into Slytherin, he could affix the patch of his House upon the front. A small quirk of his lips. Hermione's twin may be the rebel of her family's name, but he had no doubt that Regulus would follow his sister's and his family's trend.

A long cloak caught his eye, and he touched it with his fingers, feeling the softness of the fabric. It was undoubtedly Slytherin. The emerald green lining was accented with silver. A heavy cloak clasp of a silver snake hooked the nape together. Sparkling red ruby eyes glittered on the snake clasp. It was beautiful.

He took the cloak off the rack and tried it on. The cloak went down to his ankles in a drape, but it felt comfortable even in the heat of the current climate. Magic was truly a wonderful thing. Feeling a bit self-conscious, he put it back on the hanger and then back on the rack. As much as he would love to have it, he was here to shop for Christmas gifts for others. Perhaps, if he had money left after the gift shopping was done, he could come back for it.

He brought up the cloak for Regulus to the witch behind the counter.

"Is this a gift, dear? Do you need it wrapped and owled for Christmas Day?" the pleasant witch asked.

"Yes, please," Severus said.

The woman handed him a gift card to sign, and he used the nearby quill to write a short note to Regulus, signed it, and addressed the front of the envelope. The witch took his galleons for the cloak and tutted as she tucked it under the elaborate ribbons on the parcel. She smiled at him warmly. "London, eh?" the witch said, eyeing the card address with interest. "Cold up there, I hear. White Christmas for sure."

Severus nodded.

"Well, I'm sure whoever this is you are sending the gift to will stay nice and warm," she said with a convinced nod. "Happy Christmas, dear."

"Happy Christmas," he answered softly, nodding before exiting the store.

There was a small stand near a charming little cubby with small terrarium filled with miniature plants. One had a delicate green lily in stasis in it, and Severus was reminded of Lily's eyes. He smiled as picked out a gift box for it from the choices, filled out a card, and pulled out a coin to pay for the gift. The stand owner smiled and promised to sent it out in time for Christmas morning, wishing him a happy Christmas. Severus couldn't help but think of all the busy owls on Christmas morning, and mentally reminded himself to get a package of owl nuts and owl treats for all of the winged visitors that would be dropping in the morning of Christmas.

He found a stand that specialised in hand-crafted chocolates, and picked out a few choice morsels for a gift box and sent it off to Remus. After picking up a small gift basket of tropical dried fruits and formal thank you card for both Orion and Walburga Black for allowing him to stay with them over the Christmas holiday, he had them bundled together and arranged to be delivered as well.

Severus realised, with no loss of irony, that this was the first Christmas he had not only multiple friends in which to think about, but also coins in which to pay for gifts for them. He had expected the Black family to be aloof, if not just tolerant of his presence, here he was proving that particular expectation wrong.

Picking up a small gift box from one of the vendors, he wrapped the shining white sand dollar he had stowed in his pocket since he had found it on the shore. He wrapped it carefully in tissue, plucked a card from the display, and wrote carefully on the card.

Dear Mother,

I found this on the beach the other day. I thought you might like it. I hope you are well. I am fine. Please do not worry. Happy Christmas.

Your son,

Severus

Addressing the envelope with care, he handed the parcel and his payment to the tanned wizard behind the counter.

"Do you need this to go out to arrive on Christmas, young man?" asked the wizard.

"If possible," Severus replied. "But if it would be easier on the owls to go out now and avoid the deadline, that would be okay too."

The man smiled. He nudged the owl sitting on a nearby perch. "Archimedes appreciates you, my young wizard," he said cheerfully. He handed the owl a frog leg and then the parcel. The owl made the food disappear within seconds and then launched off the perch, carrying Severus' parcel aloft and away. Just as the tawny owl left, another owl—a pretty barn owl— landed on the perch and hooted.

"Ahh, welcome back Celeste," the wizard greeted, handing her a frog leg as well. The wizard stroked her breast feathers. "The owls are quite busy this time of year, but I think they enjoy the extra treats they get for working so hard."

Severus nodded.

"Happy Christmas, young man," the wizard said.

"Happy Christmas, sir," Severus replied. He saw the little bowl the man had set out for the owls' benefit. A little sign read: Tips for our feathered friends. All proceeds go to the local post-owls for their extra work this holiday. Severus pulled out a few coins and donated to the bowl.

Celeste hooted at him, flapping her wings.

"Brightest blessings upon you," the wizard chuckled. "I'm sure the owls will agree."

Celeste hooted again, as if to agree.

Severus quirked the corner of his mouth and nodded, heading back to the bookstore to meet back up with Hermione, Regulus, and Orion.

A little stand outside the bookshop caught his attention. There was a small carousel of bookmarks, and one sported a beautiful gold tone relief of a phoenix. It shimmered with a fiery enchantment that casted no heat. Severus fingered it fondly, knowing that Hermione would like it. He pulled out the little coin pouch Orion had given him yet again, wiggling out a few knuts to pay for the bookmark.

Just as he was handing the coins over, a hand reached over and snatched the coin pouch out of his hands.

"What are you buying there, snake?"

"Awww, snake wants to buy himself a bookmark. I bet he's never had one before."

"Give that back, Potter," Severus growled. "You shouldn't take what isn't yours."

"Awww, like you should talk, Ssssnape," James taunted. "This pouch has the mark of the Black family on it. What did you do? Steal it to pay for your Christmas presents?"

Severus' fists clenched as his jaw tightened. "Give it back," he repeated.

"Or you'll what, snivel on me? Oh that's rich. Look, Peter, Snivellus wants his stolen pouch back."

The two Gryffindor laughed as the circled him like sharks.

Severus clenched his teeth and prepared to start getting physical when a shadow passed over the three boys.

Orion Black towered over James Potter and Peter Pettigrew with a mask of fury over his face. Talon-like hands clenched James by the shirt and hoisted him up to face him. "You have something of mine." He extended his other hand out like a skeletal hand. His silver eyes were as cold as ice. "You will return it."

James Potter went white as a sheet as Peter back-peddled into the nearby table. Sirius was running up to his friends just as James placed the stolen pouch into Orion's palm.

"Now," Orion said with a jerk of his arm. "Apologise to your peer who has done nothing to earn your antagonistic spite."

"Snivellus started it!" Peter snarked from by the table, feeling either stupid or brave or equal measures of each.

Orion's glare silenced Peter into a gibbering mess.

"I'm sorry," James muttered, refusing to look Severus in the eyes.

"You're sorry what?" Orion said darkly.

James gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry for accusing you of stealing from Lord Black, Sn…Severus."

Orion released James' shirt and fanned out his fingers as if to fling slime off them.

Both James and Peter gave Severus dirty looks until Orion gave them far worse, his silver gaze flashed with fire.

Both young wizards tore off down the street, and before Sirius could follow, Orion grasped his elder son by the collar. "You shame our name by allowing our honoured guest to be attacked by your friends. You will make restitution for allowing such reprehensible behaviour to take place. Is this the sort of behaviour you wish to set as an example for Regulus?"

"No, Father," Sirius responded.

Orion narrowed his eyes and released his son. "Find your brother and sister and finish up your shopping, Sirius," he said with a low rumbling growl. "Your social time with your friends has come to an end."

Sirius flinched. "Yes, Father," he replied giving a curt nod and he hustled off to find his siblings.

Orion turned his gaze back to Severus who was standing fairly gob-smacked in the middle of the road. Orion's eyes had lost their furious fire. He handed Severus the reclaimed money pouch. "I am aggrieved that this contemptible behaviour is not only threatening my daughter but also you, young Severus. I am more so in that it happens while you are under our care. Please accept my apologies for failing you in this."

Severus shook his head rapidly. "I hold you to no fault, Lord Black," he answered. "This is unfortunately not new behaviour from them. I thank you for… the timely rescue."

Orion took a deep breath. "You are welcome," he said with a sigh. "Come, I am sure Hermione and Regulus wish to share more adventures in the shopping for presents and wish for your shared company."

Severus nodded with a small smile. He went up to the table and purchased the bookmark that had started the entire altercation, and tucked it away in his robe. Task done, he allowed Orion to place his hand on his shoulder and guide him to where Hermione and Regulus were.

When he saw Hermione's brilliant smile and Regulus' corresponding grin, Severus brightened a little despite what had happened. When Hermione engulfed him in a hug that one might expect from someone who hadn't seen the other in years, all of the tension in Severus' body drained away. All was well again, and he was perfectly happy with that.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

To Mister and Missus Potter of the House of Potter, I, Lord Orion Black, of the House of Black send greetings.

It is with regret that I send you this letter so close to the Christmas Holiday, and I beg your indulgence in this matter at hand in order to inform you of an altercation that occurred while I and my children were spending our time at the Wizarding Beach in the Bahamas.

During this winter holiday, our family is also hosting a friend of my eldest daughter, and there was a misunderstanding between our guest and your son that perhaps our guest had acquired a pouch of funds emblazoned with our family seal through dishonesty. I can assure you, Sir and Madam, that our guest was completely in the right both with his purchases and use of the coins. The accusation was false. I fear that our guest's honour may have been insulted by these accusations, and I pray you understand that such accusations to our guest also reflect upon our families in poor light.

It is my hope that, in mutual understanding, your son is made aware such transgressions in the future will not be looked upon with the same tolerance, as we both know that it is our duty to protect the honour of our guests as our own, and that is a lesson I am sure your son would wish to be appraised of in the hopes such horrible misunderstandings do not occur in the future.

My apologies, again, for the timing of this letter during a holiday as significant as Christmas. Please accept my sincere wishes for a Happy Christmas for you and your family during this time.

Sincerely,

Lord Orion Black (his seal, the belt of Orion)

(seal of the House of Black)

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

-o-o-*HOWLER*-o-o-

James,

You will return home this instant, James Potter. It was my understanding that you would be staying at your friend Peter Pettigrew's home until Christmas, and imagine my surprise when I contacted both Mr. and Mrs. Pettigrew and discovered that Peter was supposed to be staying with us for the holiday.

It has been brought to my attention that you both were seen down in Wizarding Bahamas of all places, unsupervised, and causing quite a stir on the streets in front of countless witches and wizards and shoppes. And to make matters worse, you managed to insult members of and honoured guests of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, one of the oldest Wizarding families known. It couldn't have been more embarrassing to our family if you bit your thumb in public to Abraxas Malfoy and called him a Muggle.

I'm not sure were you got the idea that lying to us as to where you were going this holiday and taking money without permission from your father's office got planted in your head, but you will come straight home this instant, and you will tell your friend to return home to his parents as well, as they have been well informed by me as to how he was never staying with us to begin with!

Rest assured, if this is they way you are going to abuse our allowing you to have more freedom, you will be spending the rest of your holidays at Hogwarts.

(undecipherable and angry signature) (seal of the House of Potter)

-o-o-*HOWLER* (bursts into flames)-o-o-

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

A/N: I figured Orion would not put anything about the "attack" on Hermione in his letter because technically he had no proof. The attack on Severus, however, was nicely witnessed by "all the people."

I know a lot of people use Charlus and Dorea as James' parents, but there seems to be a bit of a hole and hazy area in regards to who Mr. and Mrs. Potter were, so I left them as "Mr. and Mrs. Potter." Also, Dorea was decidedly Slytherin, so unless James was either a hypocrite about hating all Slytherin or just plain barmy, I'm not sure where his prejudice would have come from (though, perhaps, that could be a story in itself for Jame's background… I dunno.)

I'm going to bed. Sorry for blatant typos. Zzzz.