Part 6

Severus stood, his entire body quivering with joy as he inhaled and exhaled slowly, paying close attention to the steady beat of his heart. Alive. He was alive! The clock ticked peacefully by the wall and he could see that it was early, but not too early for others to still be in bed if, indeed, it was truly morning. In his eagerness to see another human being, Severus nearly ran out the door of his quarters in his nightshirt and without his wand, which would have been unheard-of only a short time before.

"Oh, silly me, silly me," he muttered in a sing-song sort of way that was wholly uncharacteristic of his old self. "Now, then, I'm sure it's still Christmas, I can't have missed it, oh no. It simply would not do…"

When his last button had been fastened and his wand was tucked securely in his pocket, he tore out of his quarters with a speed and ferocity that left the door vibrating on its hinges behind him. He walked with such a spring in his step that he nearly ran over the second year Hufflepuff student who appeared to be on his way back to the Hufflepuff common room with a library book.

"Merry Christmas, lad!" Severus said loudly by way of greeting.

The boy turned and his face went from a look of pleasant concentration to one of terror.

"Tell me, is it still Christmas morning?" Severus asked, smiling wide and doing his best to give off a pleasant air.

"Y...y-yes, s-sir," the boy stuttered, clutching the book against his chest and toeing the stone floor.

"Oh, excellent, excellent!" Severus said, clasping his hands together. "Tell me, can you do me a favor?"

"Anything, Headmaster," the boy said, his fear slowly turning into confusion.

"Run down to the kitchens and have the elves prepare the fattest, juiciest roast goose they have, will you?" Severus nearly began to snicker as he imagined the looks on the Weasley family's faces when a giant roast goose materialized on their kitchen table.

"A...goose?" The boy was frowning with confusion now.

"Yes! The biggest they can get, dear boy. Have an elf meet me in my offices when they have finished and I will give them further directions." Severus finished and the boy started to run off towards the kitchens. "Oh, and boy!"

The Hufflepuff boy stopped and turned back. "Yes, sir?"

"If you get the message to the elves in ten minutes, you'll receive ten points to Hufflepuff House! If you can get back in less, I'll add another twenty!" Severus chuckled as the boy turned and ran as fast as he could towards the kitchens.

He began a brisk walk up to the Headmaster's quarters, greeting everyone he came across with a smile and a bright "Merry Christmas to you!"

His demeanor and expression were so guileless and earnest that even Sprout and Flitwick, who'd both been the most outspoken opponents of Severus' war on Christmas wished him a Merry Christmas, their faces so full of shock that Severus couldn't help but laugh. Minerva pulled him against her in a hug that was most enthusiastically returned. As the morning wore on, more students filled the halls, wishing the Headmaster of Hogwarts a Merry Christmas and returning his smile with one of their own.

And though Severus would always remember the joys of that first Christmas morning after the visit of the four phantoms that had altered the course of his life forever, he would remember those kind greetings and genuine smiles of those who were happy to see him as the very best gift he'd ever received in his life.

As the afternoon began to wear on, Severus advised Minerva that he would be attending his godson's Christmas party and, after another rather firm hug from the Deputy Headmistress, Severus wrapped his cloak around his thin frame and strode out onto the snowy grounds of Hogwarts until he reached the gates, whereupon he Apparated to the front walk of Draco's manor house in the country. The building was smaller than Malfoy Manor, but it was far more cheerful and cosy in a way that made Severus far prefer its modest size to the alternative. Though he was still fairly early, Severus paced in front of the door at least a dozen times trying to build up the courage to knock at the door. Finally, he had to force himself at a run to approach the thick, oak door and bang the knocker, which resounded inside so loudly, he was at once filled with the mad desire to simply Disapperate then and there.

But before he could move, the door had opened and a house elf opened the door, clothed in a scale model version of a serving maid's uniform.

"Good evening, sir," the elf chirped. "May I help you?"

Severus was impressed with her unusually erudite manner of speaking and smiled politely. "Merry Christmas!" he exclaimed, "Thank you for opening this door, young lady. I am your master's godfather and I have an invitation to his much-anticipated Christmas party. Pray, where might I find him?"

"Why, he's in the dining room, with the Mistress," the elf replied merrily.

"I shall come at once and join them, that is, if it is all right with you," Severus replied, his hand on the doorknob as though to push it open further.

"Oh, yes, yes, come in! Come in!" The elf bowed and pulled open the door the rest of the way, making space for Severus to enter.

"Why, Merry Christmas, Draco, Astoria!" Severus cried as he pulled open the dining room door with a song in his heart.

"Merlin's beard!" Draco cried, "Is that you, Godfather? Why, it's a Christmas miracle, if ever I saw one!"

Severus stayed at Draco's party until the wee hours of the morning eating, singing, and playing party games with the others. Even Blaise seemed to be at a loss of words at the Headmaster's sudden change in demeanor, but the general consensus seemed to be that it was miraculous indeed. Draco's hug and the kiss Severus received on his cheek from Astoria at the end of the night filled him with so much warmth and cheer that he didn't even need to use a Warming Charm on his freezing walk up from the gates of Hogwarts to the castle entrance.

The next morning, Severus rose very early indeed, for he had one goal in mind- to catch Hermione Weasley (for she was not yet Granger again, per her own request) late for her early morning patrol.

And he did it, too, much to his great delight.

Severus made sure to position himself right by the front doors to the castle, a hasty Disillusionment Charm covering his body as he waited in the shadows. He waited a full twenty minutes barely hiding his snickers of amusement as he waited for her. But then...finally...Hermione was in the door and had thrown her cloak and bag to the floor, not even worrying about the melting snow that was spreading out around her in a massive puddle. She immediately pulled out her wand and rushed down the hall as though she might be able to turn back time simply by moving quickly enough.

"AHEM." Severus stepped out from his alcove, drawing himself up to his full height like a great, furious bat with his arms folded. Hermione jumped in surprise so violently as he spoke, that she looked as though she were temporarily hovering in the air. It was very hard to keep himself from giggling as he forced himself to speak in a cruel, cold voice. "And what, exactly, do you think you are doing, coming in so very late in the morning when I specifically told you that you were to be here early for your patrol? Come to my office. Now."

Severus strode ahead, hearing the soft, defeated thud of Hermione's boots behind him and had to cover his mouth to keep from giving away the ruse.

When they finally got to the office, Hermione sat on the hard chair where she had been seated before, and Severus could scarcely believe that it had barely been more than forty-eight hours earlier.

"I've spoken with you before about this, and I shall not stand for it a second longer," Snape said, raising his voice as he bent over the desk in what he hoped looked like a threatening manner. "In fact, I have decided that it can't be helped. Effective immediately, Professor, you shall find yourself with...A MARKED INCREASE IN YOUR SALARY!"

Hermione looked up, her eyes flashing with anger as though she were about to argue the legitimacy of having been fired, when the words seemed to hit her and she sat backwards in her chair, blinking rapidly with sudden understanding.

"Merry Christmas, Hermione," Severus said, extending his hand. "What say you that we shake on the deal, but not before we have a little chat about extending your use of the Potions lab and school ingredients for experimental brewing techniques...techniques, I might add, that I am similarly interested in. Also, we must really do something about your children, as they are unable to be near you during the school year. A renovation of your quarters is in order, I say, with floo privileges to wherever their father has decided to take up residence, as I can see that you won't let his abandonment rob your children of their dad."

Hermione blinked back tears and nodded, obviously far too overwhelmed to speak, but she did place her hand in his and shook it firmly.

"Here. Try this. It will make you feel a bit better, as you're obviously still recovering from the holiday." Severus handed her a sherbet lemon- they were the good ones coated with crystallized Pepperup Potion. Severus usually only used them in extreme situations, but something told him that he'd be more generous with them in the future.

"Is it really that obvious?" Hermione asked, taking the treat and looking much improved once she'd placed it in her mouth. "Ah, Pepperup Potion. It still works and yet it's not bitter. How curious."

"It's the lemon," Severus replied conversationally, "It cancels it out somehow."

"Sir, I'm not sure what's got you in such a good mood today-"

"Please, call me Severus. I will not have you talking to me like some first year student," Severus said with a smile so genuine that Hermione smiled back in kind. "So, then, I believe that I have reconsidered your needs in regards to the heating problem in the dungeons. I shall allocate five more cords of wood to your classroom per week, if that seems reasonable."

By the utterly gobsmacked look on Hermione's face, Severus guessed that it was.

Long after the Christmas season was past, Severus made good on his promise to the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come. He helped Hermione (who'd changed her name back to Granger after the formal divorce proceedings were over with) with the refinements on the potions that would hopefully cure Tim's ailments and improve his quality of life, starting on weekends and eventually lengthening into entire summers. They were able to find good treatment potions and Severus had paid for Hermione to take her children to swim with the dolphins, as he'd read that children with disabilities often thrived in their physical recuperation when given the chance to swim in the warm sea with a friendly cetacean.

As they worked together, Hermione began to open up about the reason Ron had drifted away from her.

"It was my fault, really," she said, one day, as they were waiting for the potions to steep for the final bottling process. "Rose and Hugo were born before I got my job here. I insisted on working through my entire pregnancy with Tim, and Ron is convinced that the potions fumes from the classroom are to blame for...how he is…He didn't begin a relationship with Cho until long after we'd decided that it wasn't working any longer, and that we'd eventually divorce. I drew it out longer than it should have, though, because I had this idea that the children needed us together, but it simply isn't true, and anyway, they'd already planned to marry again, which wouldn't be possible until...well...you know. He's still my friend, even though it hurts to know it didn't work out. And he's a wonderful father, at least most of the time."

Hermione looked away and Severus found his heart aching terribly for her.

"I came up with Tim's runic frame based on some Muggle technology combined with magical treatment methods," Hermione said, wiping away a tear and taking a deep breath. "It helps him breathe deeply so that he doesn't come up short of breath or develop fluid there. It also strengthens his lung capacity so that he can breathe regularly even when exerting himself."

Severus was very impressed as Hermione explained more about the measures she'd created to protect her son.

Eventually, Severus became like a second father to Tim and his older siblings, often carrying the smaller boy on his shoulders as he patrolled the castle during the day. Even long after Tim had grown stronger and no longer needed the frame around his chest, Severus still hoisted him up on his shoulders out of habit, and the boy, who would always be a bit small and fine-boned for his age, would whoop and cry out a high-pitched "Hurrah!" as they sped on, looking for troublemakers.

And, only four years from the date that Albus' ghost had visited him, on Christmas Eve, no less, did Severus kiss Hermione under the mistletoe at the yearly Weasley Christmas Eve celebration, which had grown larger and more merry with each passing year. Everyone applauded, as all had seen the remarkable change in Severus' demeanor over the years and found him a changed man. He still had mornings where he grumbled and scowled, but his heart was gentle and he'd found kindness under his rough, dour looks, which transformed his angular, naturally grumpy-looking face to be nearly unrecognizable when he smiled.

Tim was the ring-bearer at their wedding, his long, straight legs bounding down the aisle with the abandon and joy of a child who'd known infirmity and was now free of it. Hugo and Rose were attendants and took their job seriously, standing beside their mother and stepfather, respectively with solemn looks on their faces that were summarily hugged away when the bride and groom finished sealing their vows with a peck on the lips.

Some people laughed to see the change in his demeanor, but Severus merely laughed with them, for he knew that keeping up appearances for the sake of others was a fool's errand. Besides, there was no sense in pretending to be miserable, for, after having allowed happiness into his heart, his own life was transformed. No longer was he galled and irritated by interactions with others, and he found himself making deep connections with those that he loved and felt great esteem for.

Though he lived a great many years after that fateful night, Severus Snape always kept Christmas in his heart no matter the time of year, and everyone who knew him knew this basic fact was as true as breathing. He relentlessly brought kindness into a world that was often cold and unforgiving despite his own cruel beginnings and jaded past. Most importantly, Severus never forgot the lessons he'd learned from the spirits. Thankfully, Albus had been true to his word, and Severus, gladly, never did see him again. It was, he supposed, for the best. Severus cherished his adopted family and even enjoyed being shown up by Hermione every so often. Although life was not perfect, Severus was content with what he'd made of his life and was often frankly amazed at the transformation he'd made in such a short time. In fact, the transformation was so utterly complete that he never worried that he might turn back into the hateful creature he'd been before.

For, as Tim would often say to his adoptive father, "With love, anything is possible."