Comforted by his plan of action, Severus finally rose from their impromptu bed of cushions and searched out his wand to put the sitting room to rights.
He'd thought Harry had vanished his own clothes to his laundry hamper, but they were here under the cushions. Severus froze at the sight of Potter's holly wand sticking out of the back pocket of the jeans Harry had worn last night, which were rolled in a ball under the last cushion.
Potter's casual abandonment of every wizard's only source of defence seemed to accentuate his level of power in a way that even killing Voldemort hadn't. What wizard would leave his wand lying behind? Even Albus and Lord Voldemort had always kept their wands handy, for all that they were able to work magic without them. Was Harry's power so extreme that he didn't even need to think about his wand for defence?
Severus simply needed to remember some of the things Potter had done to him last night, all without the benefit of a wand, to find his answer. The entire time they'd been together, Harry had been working multiple spells. At the height of their encounter, Severus had counted five simultaneous spells: the candles, the levitation spell, and the three probes. Five spells . . . and the man had still had the energy to have sex.
Potter really was quite astonishing. The saviour of the Wizarding World really didn't seem to have any limits on his abilities. He simply thought of something, and it instantaneously manifested. No wizard he'd known, even Lord Voldemort at his most powerful, had been capable of the spellcraft Potter had worked last night. Severus knew if he had any sense he'd be terrified, but when had he ever shown caution when faced with the lure of this level of magic?
Shaking his head, he picked up Potter's wand. Useless as it might be to Harry, it was better that he carry it, if only to lull those around him into a false sense of security.
He'd give the wand back this morning in the Great Hall.
Severus knew the burst of excitement that shot through him at the idea of seeing Harry again so soon was utterly foolish, but until the inevitable occurred, he planned to wring every last drop of pleasure out of the short time he'd have with him.
*~*~*
"Now, the next item on our agenda is the Christmas holiday," Minerva McGonagall announced.
Harry returned his attention to the meeting. These staff get-togethers were fairly routine, and he had very little input to offer most days. They covered the same subjects, again and again, month after month. It was rare that he needed to address a problem with a student before the entire staff. The few times in the past that he'd been required to, Snape and he had ended up in shouting matches, for more often than not, the student involved was a Slytherin, but these days . . . things were different. When he had an issue with a Slytherin, he brought it up to Severus as part of their daily conversation, the way Severus would relate the latest cauldron explosion. And somehow, though he hadn't realized it until this moment, the situation with the student would usually improve dramatically after he'd vented to Severus.
Severus was proving to be simply amazing. He'd never had a lover last this long before, let alone had one who was so utterly in tune with him sexually. Realizing how inappropriate that line of thought was in this venue, Harry shook himself out of his reverie and returned his drifting attention to the subject at hand.
The Christmas holiday was something he always took special interest in. Hogwarts was the first place he'd ever enjoyed a real Christmas and he wanted to ensure that the students who remained here at school during the holiday had as good an experience as he'd had. It was only the first week of December, so they still had time to plan, but he'd found that Minerva was right in addressing these subjects far in advance.
"Professor Flitwick has once again graciously offered to handle the decorations with Hagrid," Minerva said.
"Insufferable fairies and carolling suits of armour again," Severus groused beside him.
Several sharp glances shot Snape's way, but on the whole, Severus' complaint was ignored the way a squeaky chair might be overlooked.
A metallic and glass tinkling sounded as Professor Trelawney shifted position at the far end of the table and the dozens of gimcrack beads and chains she wore around her neck collided. She hadn't changed much in the nine years that had passed since Harry had finished school. She still wore the same gauzy layered clothes and still reeked of incense. "My crystal ball showed that we're going to have a Yule Ball again this year. It will be a tremendous success."
"May I remind you all that the last time we held that ridiculous event, no less than twenty-six students were fined with detention for intoxication, and seven for being caught . . . shall we say, in flagrante delicto?" Severus sneered.
"All by you," Professor Willis, the grey haired, Ancient Runes teacher, sourly responded.
Harry, on the other hand, was speculating on the odd number of students caught snogging that year. Seven students. He wanted to ask if it had been two couples and a triple?
"Forgive me if I'm the only one of their caretakers who would like to see the dunderheads survive long enough to pass their NEWTS without succumbing to alcohol poisoning or prematurely reproducing and adding to their obnoxious numbers," Snape shot back.
"I for one like the Yule Ball," Trelawney huffed.
"Madam, you like patchouli incense. No more need be said about either your taste or judgement," Severus countered.
At the confused expression behind Professor Trelawney's huge bottle-lensed glasses, Harry turned his face away so that no one would see him smile. Hanging out with Severus was really contaminating him. He was beginning to truly relish the man's rudeness.
"How many students are remaining this year, Minerva?" Neville Longbottom asked from the far end of the table. Though Severus still terrified him, Neville had become better at hiding it over the years. The slightly pudgy Neville was always an island of calm at these meetings. Harry appreciated the talent Neville had developed for derailing the arguments that Snape's insults would engender by changing the topic. Having benefited from that skill a time or two in the last four years, he could hardly resent Neville's interruption today, even though he was enjoying seeing his lover have a go at his batty old Divinations teacher.
"Sixteen will remain with us this Christmas," Minerva answered.
"That's a lot of kids," Harry said.
"Yes, that was my thought," Minerva said.
"Why so many?" Neville asked.
"Well, we have those four Muggleborns whose families washed their hands of them when they received their Hogwarts' letter. The parents of five of the others will be travelling out of the country over the holidays."
"And the others?" Hermione questioned.
"Three of my Slytherins have asked to remain. I didn't enquire as to their reasons," Severus informed.
"And there are two Hufflepuffs, a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor staying," Minerva said. "We will have our hands full."
"Maybe we should consider doing more to keep them amused this year, considering how many are staying?" Hermione suggested.
"What did you have in mind?" Minerva asked her.
"Well, I hadn't really given it much thought, but . . . ." obviously, no ideas immediately sprang to Hermione's mind.
Taking a deep breath, Harry voiced the idea that had gone over like the proverbial Muggle lead balloon the last time he'd suggested it at the staff meeting, mostly due to Severus' scathing disapproval of incorporating any more Muggle festivities in a Wizarding school, "We could do what the Muggles call a Secret Santa and have a real Christmas party with carols."
"Maybe someone could even dress up like Santa and give out presents," Hermione quickly said, getting the words out before Snape could interrupt, her eyes turning towards Hagrid. "Or perhaps the Ghost of Christmas Past."
Harry held his breath, not even daring to look his lover's way as he waited for Severus to shoot the idea down. In fact, everyone at the staff meeting appeared to be bracing themselves for a typical Snape explosion. The silence stretched uncomfortably.
Finally, Harry peeked over at Severus. The strong-featured face was impassive, utterly unreadable. Their gazes touched and held.
Severus said nothing.
Harry could feel the confusion mounting at the table, the way people might react if dawn came and the sun failed to appear on the horizon at its predicted sunrise.
Minerva broke the quiet.
"Are there any objections to the idea? Severus?" McGonagall asked, as if she thought he might have missed the entire conversation.
Severus shook his head. "I'm sure the students will find the insipid idea most entertaining."
Severus' response appeared to unnerve Minerva as much as it did Harry and everyone else at the table.
"You don't have any objections to a Muggle party with carolling and a Santa?" the headmistress enquired.
"I have many objections. However, your intent was to entertain the simpletons, was it not? Although the suggestion is insidious, it is far preferable to a repeat of the Yule Ball fiasco," Severus stiffly responded.
"Are you feeling all right, Severus?" Madam Pomfrey dared voice the question that everyone else was afraid to ask.
As Severus responded in his characteristic, scathing manner, Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione. Around the table, their co-workers were doing pretty much the same thing. No one could believe that Severus Snape was agreeing to this idea without even a token argument.
Seeming almost nervous, as though she expected this obvious Snape impostor to explode beside her at any moment, Minerva continued, "Well, that's settled then. Have we any volunteers to organize the gift exchange?"
"I'll do it," Hermione quickly offered.
"What about the Father Christmas impersonator?" Minerva asked.
For some reason, everyone was still staring at Severus, as if they expected this bizarre lookalike to offer to take on the role. As Harry had hoped, it was Hagrid's deep, gruff voice that volunteered, "I'll do it, Headmistress. If someone'd be willing to make me costume?"
"We can help with that, Hagrid," Hermione assured.
"I'm a decent dressmaker," Madam Pomfrey surprised them all by saying. "I can assist, if you'd like?"
"Thanks," Hermione said. "We could really use the help. I'm awful with a needle and Harry's even worse."
"I wouldn't have thought dressmaking your cup of tea, Potter," Severus drawled from beside him.
Being Ron's best friend, he'd actually tried it to help repair Ron's hand-me-down robes when magic had been used too often on them, but Harry couldn't say that in front of the entire staff.
He felt his face go red. "Yes, well -"
Harry was spared having to answer when Professor Trelawney's annoying, petulant voice once again filled the room. "Has the idea of the Yule Ball been totally vetoed, Minerva?"
"Ill take it under consideration," Minerva answered.
"My vision showed that we all had a wonderful time," Trelawney said.
"Yes, I'm sure." Minerva's curt tone revealed her feelings on that. "Now, if there are no other issues to be addressed, we'll adjourn. Thank you all for your attendance and cooperation."
The room quickly cleared out, leaving only Hermione, Harry, and Severus sitting at the empty staff table.
"I'll see you later, Harry," Hermione said, bustling out the door, as if eager to get away from Severus before some terrible transformation came over him.
Knowing how she felt, Harry turned to his lover when they were alone at the table littered with abandoned quills, papers, and teacups, and asked, "What just happened here?"
"What do you mean?" Severus absently returned as he gathered together the papers he'd been marking before the meeting started.
"I mean you just agreed to a Secret Santa and carolling. Who are you and what have you done to the real Severus Snape?" Harry half-joked.
"As I pointed out, this suggestion will offer less opportunity for mischief than another Yule Ball," Severus said.
"But if we don't do it at all, there will be no opportunity for misbehaviour," Harry said.
"That goes without saying," Severus agreed.
Something about the entire thing was making Harry very uneasy. There was only one reason he could think of for Severus to agree so readily to this kind of idea – their altered relationship. It took no effort at all to remember how disgustingly despotic Severus had been while he was his teacher, flagrantly awarding points to his own house and letting that bastard Malfoy get away with murder, while penalizing Gryffindors for existing. Carl Westfield's more recent problems with Severus' grading habits told him that his lover hadn't changed all that much since he'd taught him.
Harry decided to call Severus on it. "Last year you would have vetoed both ideas and argued me into the ground."
"Yes, I would have," Severus agreed with aggravating equanimity, as though he were thoroughly enjoying his discomfiture.
"So, what's different about this year? I know you don't want to have a Secret Santa and carols."
"Of course, I don't. The entire idea of initiating such Muggle festivities is an insult to the traditions of the Wizarding World," Severus smoothly replied.
"So why didn't you say that?" Harry demanded. "You would have fought me to the death on this last year."
Finally, something like uneasiness entered Severus' attitude. His dark eyes swept to the open door. Severus pulled out his wand, muttered a spell that closed the door, and added a silencing charm on the room before answering, "Things have changed now. Last year, I took great pleasure in aggravating you and thwarting you and your little Gryffindor plans. This year . . . it is not in my own best interest to needlessly aggravate you."
"Because we're sleeping together?" Harry asked, not sure how he felt about the idea. This unfair favouritism was one of Severus' least attractive traits.
