A Hogwarts Christmas To Remember:

Christmas Surprises At Hogwarts

Chapter 1: Planning

Severus Snape, Potions Master and Potions Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is not known for his cheerful attitude. It comes as no surprise to his colleagues when he frowns at the Headmaster's joyful greeting that morning of "Happy Christmas."

"Headmaster, I know you are very much like the Cheery Old Elf known as Father Christmas but as we have three weeks before the day don't you feel you are premature in your greeting?" Severus all but snarls in reply.

"It is the morning of our decorating day, my enthusiasm and Christmas spirit is bubbling over. Today we have the Hogwarts Elves decorating the Great Hall and the common rooms. I have Christmas trees being delivered after classes are over today. Every house, yes Severus, even Slytherin, will be having a tree in their common room as well as one to decorate here in the Great Hall. We will choose three students from each year in every house to decorate the trees. The elves will decorate the common tree representing Hogwarts. I encourage all of you to decorate your classrooms as well. This winter has been especially harsh and we can all use some Christmas cheer to brighten our days. I'm hoping the weather will clear next week to allow the students to go home for the holidays."

"Headmaster, I have some students who will not be traveling home for the Christmas break. How do you plan to accommodate those students?"

"All students who are remaining here will be housed in one house. I will announce the house and choose among the professors remaining here as to who will be considered their Head of House for the holidays. If each of you Heads will send me a list of names of these students we'll know how many children we will be sponsoring for Christmas. We'll have to see to getting their gifts delivered from the families. We don't want any child to feel despondent at this magical time of year. We'll make Christmas at Hogwarts extra special! How many do you have at this time Minerva?"

"Four from Gryffindor. Harry Potter will be among them as his Aunt is leaving for a relative's home and requests he stay at school."

"What? They didn't want the Golden Child to travel with them? How could they deny the great Harry Potter a trip that way!" Snape asks, sarcasm dripping in his tone of voice.

"Severus. You mistake the boy for something he is not. You have from day one with Harry. If you would ever look past his appearance, you would be completely taken by surprise at the child. He isn't at all the spoiled young man you seem to think he is. I find him charming, myself."

"Of course you do, Minerva. Everyone in Gryffindor is charming in your eyes no matter what mischief they are involved in! That boy would not have been rewarded house points for the Dragon incident or the Troll incident either if he was in my house. He would have received a stern reprimand on the seat of his pants for putting himself in danger!" Snape replies, pushing his chair back and swooping from the room in the style he perfected.

Entering his quarters in the Slytherin dorm Severus finds a box of Christmas decorations on his kitchen table. Along with the box is a scroll which when opened reads;

My Dear Severus,

In this box you will find the decorations for your classroom.

You will also find a larger box of decorations has been delivered to the Slytherin Common Room.

Please allow the students who wish to do so, to decorate their common room.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"Why does he insist on that form of address and in signing his whole name plus title in that way? I for one, am not his "Dear" anything! Also it's as if we don't already know the name of our Headmaster, the famous warrior who fought and defeated Grindlewald! At least he had the sense to leave off the rest of his ridiculous titles" Snape mutters to himself as he scowls at the scroll and then the box.

From years of being a Head of House, knowing any unexpected distractions from the routine can cause mayhem, he goes to check the Common Room. Opening the door with a loud bang, he swoops in startling the few children sprawled on couches and the floor.

"If you are late to class you will be docked points from your professor and if the point loss totals ten or more from this house everyone losing points will scrub the potions classroom tonight! As you see we now have a Christmas tree to decorate. Anyone serving detention will not be participating so I strongly suggest you GET TO CLASS!"

"But Professor Snape, Sir, this is free period for fourth years sir. We don't have class for an hour, sir." One brave boy speaks out.

"Very well, use your time wisely! As you have my class in one hour, I expect your homework essays to be complete and on point! Anyone not a fourth year LEAVE!" Severus announces causing three students to carefully edge around him and scurry out the door. Following behind, Severus sends one last glare at the students who are frozen in place before closing the door behind him.

"Merlin! He's in a mood, I say!" Michael Oliver whispers. "I haven't seen him that cross since he was slimed last year in the Great Hall!"

"He was slimed?" Anthony Kennedy asks.

"That's right you only transferred here this year. Yea, the Weasley twins, Fred and George, they pulled that excellent prank on the Head Table. Just as the professors sat for dinner, balloons filled with green sludge exploded over their heads drenching everyone at the table in green goo! It was very funny but we Slytherins couldn't make a sound as Snape would have had us all in detention! Let me warn you, if you get more than two detentions a term, he has a private meeting with you in his office. I've not had one but some have and they report he paddled them over his lap! One of the sixth years even had to go through that humiliation."

"Oliver, I think you are being fooled. No professor would do such here as the Headmaster wouldn't allow it."

"Think what you wish, Kennedy. Just keep in mind what I said as to detentions. Come, let's get to class early just in case he wants to assign detentions today!"

A/N: This will be a short story, possibly four chapters and is completely separate from the Harry Potter Child Prodigy stories. It is Alternative Universe, set in Harry's first year. Please review.