A loud crack announced Cassie's arrival to the Tonks' neighborhood. Her short walk to their front door was lit by colorful Christmas lights on several houses, and she passed a group of Muggles armed with steaming mugs and cheery smiles.
Her aunt and uncle greeted her with warm hugs as soon as the door opened. She immediately apologized for arriving earlier than they had expected based on her letters.
"Nonsense," Andromeda said at once. "You're always welcome here, Cassie. I hope you know that now." The brunette witch looked positively radiant in a set of flannel pajamas, a bathrobe, and slippers. Cassie realized that she was still dressed in her silver dress robes and couldn't wait to change into something a little more informal.
"I know, Aunt Dromeda," Cassie replied with a smile. "I just hate to impose."
"You'll be in Dora's room," Ted said, ushering Cassie farther into the house. There was a large, heavily decorated tree beside the lit fireplace, and it looked as though they had been sipping something warm from mugs in squashy-looking chairs when Cassie had come calling. With all the elaborate ornaments and dim lighting, the house almost seemed surreal, as though she had stepped inside a holiday painting.
The atmosphere reminded her of the Weasleys around Christmas, and Cassie found herself missing the large family's home this year, even though she was thrilled to be spending the holiday where she was.
"Is she going to have time off tomorrow after all?" Cassie asked as she stepped into her cousin's bedroom with her bag and pulled out a long purple nightshirt to change into.
"Yes. It seems Mad-Eye is letting her have most of the day to spend here," Ted said with a smile. "Why don't you get settled and then join us out in the living room?"
He left her alone, and Cassie quickly changed into her pajamas, eager to escape the elegant clothing that reminded her of the disastrous dinner she had just left.
As she began taking her raven hair out of its updo, she glanced around her cousin's room. Her eyes soon landed on a framed photograph of herself, Tonks, and Charlie, perched on the dresser. The three of them stood arm in arm in front of the Three Broomsticks, all smiling broadly and looking quite pleased to be in one another's company. They had taken the picture shortly after Tonks and Charlie's graduation from Hogwarts.
Now, as she stood looking at it, Cassie remembered that Charlie had already broken up with her by the time they had posed for the photograph. It made her realize just how complacent she had been when the relationship ended. She had barely taken the time to cry more than a handful of times when her boyfriend of two and a half years had given her the boot.
She couldn't imagine reacting that way now if Severus told her it was over, that he no longer wanted her. Even imagining the scenario to compare the two relationships sent a sharp pain through her heart, and she forced herself to stop. But now she missed him.
She wondered what he was doing on Christmas Eve. He was probably patrolling the corridors, making sure Potter was safe, as usual. She suddenly found herself wishing it were the next night already so she could return to Hogwarts and see him. Then she internally scolded herself, knowing she should be grateful for the night she had been given to spend with her aunt and uncle. She headed out to where Andromeda and Ted sat beside the fireplace, ready to spend some much-needed quality time with them.
Ted immediately handed her a mug of spiced tea and guided her toward a recliner, and the three of them settled into a leisurely, natural conversation. Cassie caught them up on what she was learning in her classes, while they filled her in on some of Tonks' adventures during her training. The more dangerous endeavors, however, Andromeda didn't seem particularly keen to relive on such a peaceful night.
There was no talk of the Ministry, upcoming wars or prophecies, unicorn blood, or someone wanting to kill Potter. Not once did Cassie think about what she had seen that night in the mirror or the conversation she had with Firenze in the forest. There was no unpleasant tension over which pureblood was doing what, who was a blood traitor, or which Muggle-borns were supposedly to be avoided.
It was a welcome change of pace for Cassie, an atmosphere she desperately needed.
They chatted well into the night, and finally, when all three of them began yawning mid-sentence, Andromeda announced that they should probably think about heading to bed.
"Oh, before I forget, Cassie," the older witch said as Cassie slowly padded toward Tonks' bedroom, rubbing her eyes. She disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, then returned with a package wrapped in brown paper. "It's the text you wanted."
Cassie took it and unwrapped it, revealing a tattered, antique book titled Şəfalı İksirlərin Hamısı. Its cover looked as though it had once been a bright vermilion, but age had faded it to an almost rusty shade. When Cassie gingerly opened it, she saw that the pages had yellowed with time. "Thank you, Aunt Dromeda." She carefully placed the fragile potions book on Tonks' desk, not wanting to cause it any further damage. She intended to wrap it nicely and give it to its intended recipient the following night. "I would have gotten it myself in Diagon Alley, but I haven't really been back in public since...that day."
"You don't have to explain," Andromeda said quietly. "I wouldn't be ready to, either."
Cassie nodded and sat on the bed. "Did the money I sent you cover it?"
"Oh, yes," her aunt said. "It just took a bit of searching. Flourish and Blotts didn't have a copy and didn't know of a way to obtain one, so I got Borgin and Burkes to track it down for me."
"Dromeda, you didn't have to do that!" Cassie said, surprised that her aunt had gone to so much trouble.
"Oh, it's nothing," her aunt replied with a sly smile. "Do you really think the shopkeepers in Knockturn Alley would mess with me? My sisters might not associate with me, but the rest of the world remembers that I'm a Black, after all."
"Yes, I suppose."
"You don't need to protect us," Andromeda said then, moving to sit beside Cassie on the bed and placing a reassuring hand on her niece's shoulder. "I know you must feel that way after you learned what the Malfoys were doing."
"I told them, if they ever say anything like that to you two again, I'd—" Cassie was cut off when her aunt placed a hand over her mouth to shush her.
"Please, not so loud. I don't want Ted to hear," Andromeda explained quietly before removing her hand. "I didn't mean to upset you, Cassie, and I really didn't want to bring anything close to the subject up tonight. So the only thing I want to say is that we're fine, and we'll be fine. Ted and I are so happy to have you here with us, and Dora will be thrilled to see you tomorrow."
Cassie nodded, wanting to say so much more, but conceded to her aunt's wishes in the interest of keeping the peace. "I'm happy to be here, too."
She went to bed then, hoping for a restful night's sleep. Having had such a busy day, she drifted off quickly, and soon found herself dreaming of a certain Potions Master. Her subconscious relived a particularly sultry afternoon they had spent in his quarters only a few days earlier, barely leaving the bed except to nourish and relieve themselves.
But then the images shifted. She was no longer in bed with Severus.
Instead, she stood in the Dark Forest beside figures in black robes, their hoods pulled over their heads and silver masks covering their faces. She turned toward one of them, preparing to demand what they were doing there, when she heard her mother's voice call her name.
Cassie turned toward the sound. Bellatrix stood there, Nymphadora in her clutches, a silver dagger pressed against her cousin's exposed throat.
Cassie tried to call out. Tried to plead with her mother to let Tonks go. But when she took a single step forward, the blade plunged into flesh. Red blood began to spurt in every direction, painting the forest around them.
Christmas morning began with Cassie screaming in her sleep.
She didn't realize she was doing it until her aunt woke her. It took several seconds for her to focus on the concerned faces of Ted and Andromeda above her.
"Cassie!" Andromeda was saying anxiously, smoothing her niece's hair away from her pale, sweaty face. "Cassie, you're all right. You're in Dora's room. You're safe."
"Oh," Cassie said, feeling rather foolish as she realized she had been dreaming. She wished the bloody images would begin to fade as reality took over her consciousness, as they sometimes did, but there was no luck so far. She swallowed hard, trying to push the image of her cousin's dead body from her mind while simultaneously attempting to appear calm so as not to further alarm her aunt and uncle. "I'm fine. It was just a nightmare."
"Must have been a bad one," Ted muttered. "Tried to pull you out of it for a minute or so."
"I'm sorry," Cassie said, sniffling. "I have them sometimes. I just forgot to meditate before I went to sleep, is all." Ted and Andromeda exchanged worried glances, but neither pressed the issue.
"Well, why don't you take a few minutes and then come help us get breakfast on?" Ted suggested before leaving Cassie alone.
She spent several minutes sitting on the bed, gathering herself and clearing her mind. This was going to be a good Christmas. She was going to make sure of it.
She pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from her overnight bag before making her way into the kitchen. Andromeda started cooking sausages and eggs on the stove while Ted prepared coffee.
Cassie was about to ask what she could help with when a loud bang from toward the front of the house startled her. "Oi, I've arrived home just in time for presents! Owls just came by!"
Cassie forgot about helping her aunt and uncle with breakfast and sprinted toward the noise. She launched herself at Tonks, who had just burst through the front door. Cassie completely disregarded the fact that her cousin was holding an armful of packages, and they all came tumbling to the ground as the two young witches embraced with so much enthusiasm that they nearly toppled over.
"Happy Christmas, Cass!" Tonks exclaimed. Cassie squeezed her cousin so tightly that she thought she might cut off her air supply, but she didn't care in the slightest.
"Happy Christmas, Dora!" She finally peeled herself away from the hug, knowing that her aunt and uncle would be just as eager to embrace their daughter. Cassie watched as the three of them exchanged enthusiastic hugs and kisses before heading back toward the kitchen to make sure their forgotten breakfast wasn't burning on the stove.
Behind her, the Tonks family immediately began chattering away happily in greeting. "Well, you're a bit of a popular one, aren't you?" Tonks said as she returned to the kitchen after gathering the packages. "Looks like you got a few gifts out there."
"I don't know who they're from," Cassie mused, putting the sausages onto a plate.
"I don't know for sure, but one's handwriting looks like a certain someone from Romania," Tonks said with a wink.
Cassie looked at her in surprise. "Oh. Well, that's rotten, because I didn't send him anything!"
Tonks started laughing, her features glowing beneath her spiky, bright green hair. "Serves him right. He was kicking around the idea of sending you more letters recently, you know, but when I caught wind of it, I sent him a rather nasty one. Told him to leave you be—"
"Wait a second," Cassie said. Andromeda and Ted entered the room, helping her plate up the rest of the food so they could eat. "How often do you talk to Charlie?"
"Oh, I don't get enough time to talk to him much," Tonks said, biting into a sausage. "I heard it through Arthur at the office, of course."
"Right."
"But anyway, apparently Charlie's been telling his mum and dad how much he misses you. He was thinking about trying to strike up a long-distance relationship with you, and of course Molly was all for it because she loves you and wants you to have her grandbabies."
Cassie snorted. "I have enough on my plate, thank you very much."
"That's what I said!" Tonks declared. "And once you graduate and start your Auror training, you're going to be so busy like me that you're not going to have much time to spare for that anyway."
Cassie nodded, but thoughts of Auror training and her other conversations with Dumbledore immediately began creeping into her mind. She tried to force them away.
"Well, I can't imagine Charlie can afford a distraction like that, anyway," Ted mused. "Needs to stay focused on the fire-breathing dragons, right?"
"Right," Andromeda agreed.
The rest of their breakfast was rather pleasant, and afterward they gathered around the large, beautifully decorated Christmas tree to exchange and open gifts.
Cassie received a new set of quills from Andromeda and Ted, while Tonks bestowed upon her a set of standard antidotes in a handsome leather traveling case.
"Since you're so bloody wretched at Potions, I thought I'd give you a set that the Aurors carry with them in case they get poisoned," Tonks explained with a wide grin. Cassie rolled her eyes, but smiled as she set the gift aside.
Next, she opened one of the packages the owls had brought that morning. Inside was the standard Weasley sweater Molly made. This year's version was dark green with a silver C on the front.
Cassie had come to cherish these annual sweaters, and she immediately pulled it on over her T-shirt, relishing the warm fabric.
Tonks had received one this year as well, hers yellow with a black T, and she was delighted that the mother Weasley had remembered her preferred initial this time.
Cassie moved on to her remaining package. Indeed, the handwriting appeared to belong to Charlie.
When she opened it, she was surprised to find a gleaming, iridescent scale larger than her hand. A small hole had been made near the apex, with a length of black cord threaded through it. A note sat at the bottom of the brown paper.
Green Pea,
This is from the young female Antipodean Opaleye I've been working with. I've nicknamed her Ella because she's stubborn and hot-headed, just like you. Hope all is well. I think of you often.
Love,
Charlie
Cassie jumped when she heard Tonks snort beside her. Her cousin had apparently been reading over her shoulder. "'Green Pea.' That nickname always made me want to puke."
"Did he send you one?" Cassie asked, closing the dragon scale and note and tucking them back into the brown paper.
"Yeah." Tonks opened her similarly wrapped package, revealing a silvery-blue scale hanging from the same type of black cord. "He says it's from a Swedish Short-Snout. No sentiments of love or pet vegetable nicknames, though."
"Oh, give him a break," Cassie said, rolling her eyes. "Maybe he's just lonely over there and isn't thinking straight."
"He's lonely? Try traipsing about the country with Mad-Eye day in and day out, then he can complain about being lonely! The man is brilliant, don't get me wrong, but he's not much for company. I'd bet those dragons make for better conversation some days!" Tonks launched into story after story about her training, her successes, and her near misses while pursuing criminals throughout the wizarding community. A few times, Cassie tried to throw her cousin a warning look, hoping she would take the hint and tone things down, because her parents looked rather worried whenever she described some of the more dangerous things she had encountered.
Overall, however, Andromeda and Ted seemed tremendously proud of their daughter and her endeavors.
They got to work on their Christmas midday dinner, and Cassie had never been so grateful for the family's lack of house-elves. They shared stories and laughs while preparing the turkey and trimmings, doing most of the work without magic.
They ate a little too much, then spent some time outside enjoying the slowly falling snow and watching a few of the neighboring children engage in an enthusiastic snowball fight while they sipped hot chocolate.
After wandering back inside, Tonks and Cassie retreated to the bedroom while Andromeda and Ted went into the kitchen to put on some tea.
"So weird to be back here," Tonks said quietly as she picked up her old knickknacks and studied them, as if she hadn't seen them in ages. "It's like this is all from a lifetime ago." She came across the antique Azerbaijani potions book Cassie had asked Andromeda to find and scrunched up her nose. "What's this?"
"It's an old potions book. Collector's piece, really," Cassie replied.
"For Snape?" asked Tonks. Cassie nodded. She had always gotten the Potions professor Christmas gifts, so the presence of the book wouldn't exactly arouse suspicion about their now-not-so-platonic relationship. "Is he still the same old greasy git?"
Cassie snorted with laughter, amused that Tonks' blunt temperament remained unchanged even after her strenuous Auror training. "Yes, I suppose."
"Never understood your friendship with the guy," Tonks said, rummaging through her old jewelry box. She pulled out a large, dangling pair of gold earrings and put them on. Her hair suddenly grew drastically longer, changing from green to deep scarlet.
"Well, I spend more time with him now than ever, with you and Charlie gone," Cassie admitted, lying back on the bed.
"Bet you can't wait to get out of there, huh?" Tonks turned toward the little mirror perched on her dresser, examining her nose. Its shape began to change, suddenly becoming shorter and flatter.
Cassie, who had felt content and relaxed for most of the day until that moment, felt her stomach twist as the familiar pang of anxiety gripped her. Her cousin's well-intentioned words had her thinking about how, in only a few short months, she would be leaving the familiar routine of Hogwarts—and with it, the ability to see Severus whenever she wanted.
"Oh, I don't know," Cassie replied softly. But Tonks had already launched into another anecdote and didn't hear her.
Cassie did her best to shake the negative thoughts from her mind and continue enjoying her time with the little family. She would be heading back to the castle in only a few short hours, after all.
Nighttime came soon enough. Tonks had to return to the Ministry to meet back up with Moody, while Cassie had a scheduled time to use the living room fireplace to return to Severus's office, once again limiting her time in public.
After emotional goodbyes all around, the foursome parted ways. Cassie once again used the Floo Network, this time with a few more packages in hand and proudly wearing her homemade Weasley sweater.
Severus wasn't seated at his desk, so Cassie went to his quarters instead. The fireplace was lit, and she could see his hunched silhouette in one of the chairs, as if he were reading. She went to the dining area to set down her overnight bag and packages, and he stood to greet her, the text he had been examining still in his hands.
"Happy Christmas, Severus," she said, holding out the gift she had gotten for him. He bent down to give her a kiss.
"Hello, Cassie," he murmured. His breath smelled faintly of whiskey, and he seemed relaxed, as though he had actually gotten the chance to unwind and spend some time by himself.
She was about to ask him if Quirrell was out of the castle, as that was the only reason she could think of for him to be acting so carefree as of late, but she couldn't bring herself to bring it up. Even though she had spent the entire day with people she loved, speaking about things completely unrelated to the danger surrounding Hogwarts, she found herself drained simply thinking about it.
So she refrained from mentioning it for the time being. "Did you have a good day?" she asked instead.
"It was fine. Better now that you're here," he replied smoothly. He kissed her again, this time with more fervor, sending shivers throughout her entire body.
"Mmm, you're distracting," Cassie said after pulling away. She pressed his gift into his hands, then went to pour herself a drink. The Head of Slytherin sat back down in his chair and carefully began opening the wrapping, as though anticipating the antiquity of the book inside.
Perhaps he was. Rare potions and spellbooks were among the things Cassie particularly enjoyed finding for him.
Once he removed the paper, he ran a graceful hand over the cover before carefully opening the book and gently paging through it. "How did you get it?" he asked.
"I wanted to find it myself, but I didn't want to risk going out in public just yet," Cassie explained, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I had Aunt Dromeda get it."
"Won't she be suspicious?"
"No," Cassie reassured him. "They know I've gotten books for you other years."
He didn't say anything. Cassie watched his face carefully as he continued examining the book. He didn't look pleased, or even particularly interested. In fact, he seemed a little uneasy. It made Cassie begin to feel flustered.
This was the first gift exchange between the two of them since they had become romantically involved, and she had desperately wanted to get it right. "Do you have this one already, Severus?"
He looked up at her suddenly, as if she had pulled him from a thought. "No."
"So you don't like it."
"What? No. It's not that."
Cassie went over to his chair and dropped to her knees in front of it, her eyes now level with his. She wanted to get to the bottom of what was bothering him, but she also simply wanted to be close to him. She had been away for almost two days and wanted nothing more than to feel near him again. "So what is it?"
He looked at her then, his black eyes fixed so intently on her that all she wanted to do was kiss him. But suddenly he sighed, set the book on his lap, and reached into his pocket.
He withdrew a small maroon box and held it in front of him. "This is for you," he said quietly.
She wanted to giggle with relief. Now she understood why he had been acting strangely. He had been nervous about the gift he had gotten her.
But she resisted the urge to laugh, knowing that doing so while he was feeling vulnerable would only make him agitated. Instead, she gingerly took the box from him with a straight face.
When she flipped open the lid, she found a black onyx necklace on a silver chain, the oval-shaped pendant surrounded by small moonstones.
"Severus, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed. She immediately began taking the jewelry from its case, intending to put it on.
"If it's not your aesthetic, you don't have to wear it," he muttered.
"Nonsense." She handed it to him, lifting her hair and turning around so he could help her. "I love it."
Once he had clasped it around her neck, she turned back around to kiss him. "It's a very thoughtful gift, Sev."
"As is yours," he replied. He stood only long enough to find a safe place for his new text on one of his many bookshelves.
It wasn't long before they were locked in a sensual, loving kiss. Hands roamed over each other's bodies, and Severus helped pull the sweater over her head. They paused to stare at each other as his hands lingered on the bottom of her shirt.
Soon, the necklace was the only thing Cassie was wearing as she lay down in front of the crackling fireplace on the rug.
Her long black locks were strewn beneath her. Her cheeks reddened as Severus slowly crawled over her, taking his sweet time and drinking in the sight of her naked body.
Cassie felt rather lascivious, having been away from him for so long. But he seemed to want to take things slowly and savor the experience. She hungrily kissed his neck and wrapped her legs tightly around his hips to pull him toward her, but he continued making unhurried, deliberate touches all over her skin.
She moaned as he slowly began to suck on her earlobe. She nearly came undone when his breathy voice reached her ears.
"Now, now," he purred, her earlobe still between his teeth as he spoke. "This isn't a race."
She wanted nothing more than to take control and ride him into oblivion. But she was also enjoying the attention he was giving her. So she kept her hands on his torso, letting him decide where and when he wanted to touch her.
His mouth traveled from her ear to her jaw and then to her collarbone. Her chest was heaving with anticipation. When he finally took one of her nipples into his warm mouth, she began to tremble, certain she was going to lose herself right then and there.
"Severus," she said breathlessly. "Please—" She stopped when his hand began to slowly travel from her rib cage down her stomach. She desperately wanted it to come to rest between her legs. Instead, it bypassed that area and rested on her inner thigh, rubbing slowly.
She responded by opening her legs wider, urging him to touch her where she wanted him most. To stop teasing her.
"You're so wet, I can feel it dripping down your thighs," he uttered softly, moving his mouth to her other breast.
"You're mocking me," she panted. She reached between her legs, intending to stimulate herself. She simply couldn't take the teasing anymore, but he caught her wrist.
"I would never be that cruel," he replied. He gently moved her hand to her side, keeping a firm grip as she tried to pull it free.
His head lowered between her breasts, down her stomach and toward her thighs. Just as she was about to argue with him, she felt his tongue against her. She moaned loudly enough that he chuckled at her enthusiasm.
He pushed her legs further apart. With his nose pressed expertly against her sensitive nub, he penetrated her with his tongue. Just when she thought she was about to burst, he shifted his attention, sucking her clit as he slowly pushed his fingers inside her.
He sensed that she wanted him to move faster, but he deliberately kept his movements slow and gradual. He admired her ragged breaths and the sweat gathering on her flushed skin. He knew he was building something inside her so overwhelming that her legs would be shaking long afterward.
When she finally reached her climax, she writhed so hard beneath him that she almost squirmed out of his grip. He let her recover for several minutes, planting warm, tender kisses across her flushed skin before inching back up her body.
He pressed himself against her and entered her at the same relaxed pace with which he had just pleasured her. He wanted to enjoy every moment, to make it last all night if he could.
Cassie clung to him for dear life as he moved, but soon his own breathing turned ragged. He was losing control as her body responded to him.
She was absolutely delectable.
In that moment, he was certain he'd never be able to get enough of her—not in ten lifetimes.
Not wanting to finish just yet, he withdrew, earning a groan of protest from the young witch. He shifted her onto her side and settled himself behind her. He grasped her leg and held it up as he pressed into her again, continuing at the same measured pace. When he felt her body begin to shudder around him, he allowed himself his own release.
After they had both come down from their peaks, he pulled her close, the two of them still lying on their sides in front of the fireplace. He nuzzled his face into her neck and hair, planting soft kisses against her skin.
When he reached an arm around her to pull her closer, his fingers absently found the pendant resting against her chest. He gently fondled it between his fingers.
The necklace was an instant reminder of their bond, of their unsaid commitment to one another. And as he held her close, Severus smiled into her neck—a rare expression, one he seldom allowed himself when anyone was watching.