Chapter 114 : A Magical Christmas Gift

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"Well, I imagine the information was known at some point in time, but animagus transformation was deemed illegal during the seventeenth century -and for a century after that most of the old manuscripts on the subject ended up being destroyed- and is still closely monitored today. And needless to say, it takes a strong wizard or a great deal of help to become an animagus; a second transformation takes even more; it needs dedication and months, maybe years of studying." Severus rationalized. "Plus, I have the feeling the book I found in my family's library was one of those that were supposed to have been destroyed under the Ministry Degree three centuries ago."

"You have to hate the Ministry sometimes." Harry mumbled looking at the parchment in thought; he was already trying to come up with an animal he would want to be transformed into. "You know, I always love to fly." The boy simply explained as Severus nodded smirking.

"I'll see what I can do." He offered back and they fell into a discussion on the subject. Said discussion made time fly and Harry had to run back to the Great Hall, much to the potions master's amusement, to fetch Neville. It was a panting but very excited Harry that caught up with his friend as the later was walking down the stairs.

"I… Hi, Nev… follow me!" And he turned around to run to the dungeons again when a laughing Neville placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Why don't you try breathing first?" The boy asked, looking at his friend with a critical eye.

"Good idea." Harry admitted smirking back.

"So," Neville asked as the green eyed wizard tried to catch his breath, "any chance I'll be getting a hint as to what you got me?" The boy was toying with the purple bow on what Harry supposed was his gift. It was a small box in an expensive looking, golden wrapping paper and had definitely stirred Harry's curiosity.

"Nope." Harry offered flippantly before getting serious; he knew how afraid of Severus Neville was. "Just, trust me with this, okay?" Neville sobered up too and nodded once.

"Of course." Harry smiled once more and started walking, motioning for Neville to follow him.

"Harry?" His friend asked, looking bewildered at the destination towards which the raven haired boy was leading him. "Why are we going towards the dungeons?"

"You'll see!" The boy answered jovially. "You'll love your gift, I promise!" By the time they arrived in front of Severus's office door, Neville had gone pale and was trembling slightly.

"Harry?" He just asked, looking at his friend with terror filled eyes.

"Nev, there's nothing to fear."

"But this is professor Snape's office!" The boy complained. "What if he catches us here?"

"First of all, he's expecting us." At that, Neville turned ashen and took a step back, knees trembling.

"What?" He asked in a muffled voice.

"He is." Harry stated simply. "And most importantly, Nev, professor Snape practically raised me." At that, all trembling subsided and was promptly substituted with a bewildered look.

"He what?"

"He did." Harry assured him, glad to finally be able to freely share that information with somebody. "My parents… Well, they were always busy with Adrian and Sev is an old friend of my mother's." Severus had been vehement that no friend of Harry's would ever tremble at his sight. So, Harry had happily offered to paint him in a better light -as much as it was possible- for Neville to see. "And he's not as bad as people make him to be. He's not bad at all!" There went the understatement of the century.

"But…" Neville seemed a little bit unable to grasp the idea of a likeable Severus Snape.

"Well, as I said, he raised me." Harry reminded him with a smile. "And I turned out alright, didn't I?" Neville nodded. "Give him a chance, Nev! You'll see! He even helped with your present!"

"He did?" The boy asked, unable to help himself.

"Yeah!" Harry assured him. Neville seemed to consider what he had heard, before reaching a decision. He nodded once, mostly to himself and simply stated;

"Okay then."

"Thanks, Nev!" Harry said and winked, knocking on the door.

"And did you call him Sev?" Neville asked as an afterthought as the potions master in question opened the door.

"Good evening, Mr. Longbottom." He said softly, trying not to scare the boy off. To his merit, Neville just looked bewildered but unafraid. "And Merry Christmas." Severus added, shaking the boy from his stupor.

"Merry Christmas, professor." He wished back, as he was ushered into the office. Severus winked at Harry as he closed the door; the boy could tell he was enjoying this too. It was the closest they had in being themselves without taking down the concealment measures they had been using for the past years.

"So, ready for your present?" The potions master asked Neville who blushed a deep red.

"Yes, I guess." He murmured and Severus smiled softly before walking to his desk to pull something from one of the drawers, leaving Neville staring at his retreating form, wondering if the potions master had actually smiled or if it was some trick of the light coming from the lit fireplace in the corner of the room. Speaking of said fireplace…

"Ready, Nev?" Harry asked as Severus threw a handful of floo powder in the flames.

"We're leaving Hogwarts?" The boy asked, more surprised than panicked.

"I'm afraid your gift is one of the sort that has to be picked personally." The green eyed wizard answered cryptically.

"And where are we going?" Instead of an answer, Harry nodded towards Severus who had stepped into the green flames and clearly voiced;

"Diagon Alley!" And he was gone, enveloped in a burst of magic fire.

"What are you getting me from Diagon Alley? And are we even allowed to leave the castle?" Neville asked as Harry pushed him towards the fireplace.

"Well, technically, only Sev has clearance to use the floo network without checking with Dumbledore first." He smirked at Neville who had just stepped into the hearth. "If anyone asks, we were having a snowball fight by the lake." He extended the pot containing the floo powder to Neville who picked up a handful after a second's hesitation.

"Diagon Alley!" He called and soon found himself exiting the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron where Severus was waiting, followed almost instantly by Harry. Severus nodded at Tom on their way out and, if the bartender found it strange that the black clad man was accompanying two boys rather than one, his many years of experience had taught him to not comment on it.

"Come on!" Harry called to Neville the moment Severus opened the entrance to the Alley. "We have some way to go!"

"But go where?" The boy asked, watching in shock as Severus and Harry exchanged a mischievous glance.

"Harry mentioned to me," the potions master began, claiming Neville's attention, "that you're using your father's old wand?" The boy's eyes went as wide and round as galleons the moment his mind processed exactly what Severus had said.

"Yes, I am." Neville answered numbly.

"Well," Harry began with a smile, "did you know that Olivander's is open on Christmas day?" The stunned look on his friend's face clearly stated that he hadn't.

"Olivander's?" Neville asked shocked. "A wand." He stated. "You're getting me a wand." He looked at his smiling friend, waiting for him to say this was just a joke. Harry just nodded.

"I believe Mr. Olivander is a wandmaker." The green eyed wizard stated. "What else could I get you there?" The party of three had to halt for a few moments as Neville hugged Harry as tight as he could, with no apparent intention of letting him go.

"Thank you, Harry!"

"What do you say you thank me after you get your wand; Mr. Olivander is waiting." Neville swiftly let him go and took a step backwards, trying to hide his blush.

"Follow me, gentlemen." Severus said, turning around to hide his smile. A few moments later, the group of three stepped in the shop and was promptly greeted by the wandmaker himself and his pale blue stare. Sensing Neville's discomfort, Harry winked at his friend and urged him forward.

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