Harry looked at all the wrapped presents on his bed. He had a book on astronomy for Draco, awizarding romance novel for Hermione, and chocolate and a book on care of magical creatures (it was the newest edition written by Newt Scamander that had an entire section praising werewolves) for Remus. Merlin! I need to get more interesting friends Harry thought to himself as he looked at all the books he had wrapped. He then took the chew toy he had gotten for Dragon and the stuffed dragon he got for Draco and thought about what he was missing. Only have to get that necklace and music crystal for Luna… wait! Wasn't I going to look for something for Professor Snape. I have a feeling he thinks I'm taking his gifts for granted. But what should I get him? Harry thought for a few more moment and then decided he needed Remus to take him to Gringotts for more money. He could look in Diagon Alley for something for the Professor. He walked down the hall, Dragon following at his heels, to Remus' living quarters.
Harry knocked on the portrait and waited. Remus opened the door and smiled when he saw his visitor.
"What do I owe the pleasure?" He asked jokingly, motioning for Harry to come in. He pet Dragon on the head in greeting, and Dragon accepted with pleasure, licking the hand petting him.
"Remus, can you take me to Gringotts? I underestimated the cost of Draco's present and don't have enough with me to buy what I want for Luna. I also wish to look for something for Professor Snape. The past two years he gave me something for Christmas and even gave me a birthday present this year. I also need your opinion to what would be appropriate seeing as he is my professor." Harry explained.
Remus smiled. "That's very kind of you, Harry. Can I ask what he gave you? It might help to see what you should give him in return. As for Gringotts, I can ask Professor McGonagall. I should think my taking you would be alright, but I don't want to overstep my bounds." Remus explained. Harry nodded in understanding.
"Uh… Professor Snape gave me a book that my Mother had given him. It was a fourth-year charms textbook that had belonged to mum. He also gave me a journal, a picture of mum, and a 'Potions for Dummies' book." Harry listed. Remus chuckled at the last item.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Remus shook his head and smiled, "Well, obviously, he will be looking for something with more sentiment, or perhaps a 'Quidditch for Dummies' book. You could find both, of course, but I would recommend the sentiment, not the joke." Remus informed. Sirius whined. It was if to say, 'You take all the fun out of it, Moony.' "Let's go see Minerva, then, shall we?" he continued.
They walked to the Transfiguration teachers office. Remus told Harry stories of how they would be constantly trying to outwit their professor and prank her. Seemingly, it had only worked a few times. Remus' pranks were the only shenanigans thought out enough for them to not get caught, but he only would play them if the Marauders begged him on their hands and knees. The rest of the time he was only along for the ride.
They arrived at the Professor's office. Remus knocked on the door before entering.
"Minerva." He greeted.
"Remus, and Mr. Potter. What brings you here?" She inquired
"Harry here still hasn't finished all his Christmas shopping and wishes to go to Diagon Alley to get money and any last-minute gifts. He asked me if I could take him. I said it should be alright but that I should ask you, since you are his head of house." Remus clarified with a charming smile. She looked contemplative for a moment.
"Oh, alright." She started carefully. "But if you see any sign of Black or trouble, then you are to bring him back immediately, whether shopping is done or not!" she enforced upon him strongly.
"But of course. Come on Harry. Good Day, Minerva." He bid as he motioned for Harry to leave. They walked together to the gate and apparated to Gringotts. They went to the vault to get Harry's money, and Harry insisted they look around for a while.
"Why? You have your money. We should get going if we are to find something for Severus." Remus instructed.
"But you said something with sentiment. I don't share a lot of sentiment with Professor Snape, so how am I going to buy something sentimental? When they cleaned out my Mum and Dad's house, most of it went here, right?" Harry asked. Remus thought for a moment.
"It should be. Whatever I didn't keep automatically went here. Unless Dumbledore gave some things to Severus, which I highly doubt." Remus notified. Harry looked pointedly at Remus. Remus gave a nod of understanding, and started looking through a couple documents.
"Letters, financial statements, healer textbooks, defense books," Remus listed. Upon finding a baby book, he looked reminiscent and laughed emotionlessly. "This was your favorite book. You were constantly begging me to read it to you. 'Moo'ey, Moo'ey, wead'" Remus imitated. He opened the book and began skimming it. He shook his head to get rid of the memory. Harry looked at him.
"Why? Did you read better than anyone else?" Harry interrogated lightly.
"Apparently, I did the voices better, yes." Remus smiled gravely, still looking in the book. Harry went back to looking through a pile of documents. He looked back of at Remus who seemed to be struggling with some book labeled Potions. He went over to see what was wrong.
"Is there a problem?" Harry asked, concerned with Remus' scrunched up face.
"Don't know really. This book, probably ancient runes or something. All I can decipher is gibberish." Remus said knowledgeably.
"Really, because it looks like a Potions textbook to me." Harry said taking the book. "Yup definitely a Potions book. Really old, if you ask me." He continued.
Remus picked up a note that went with it. His eyes went wide in understanding.
"You have got to be kidding me." He gasped.
"What?" Harry queried. Remus dumbfoundedly handed over the note.
Notes on Potions Journal of Salazar Slytherin
For Severus,
I found this in what I think is a secret passage way. I should do more research on the place. I hope this can be used as an olive branch. Perhaps a dove depending on what part of the metaphor you're looking at.
Happy Christmas
Lily Evans
P.S. I know you meant no harm.
06-12-77
Harry stood there. This is exactly what I was looking for he thought.
"Perfect." Harry decreed.
"It explains why I can't understand it and you can." Remus smirked. "Shall we go then? It looks like you'll have a lot of work to do." He continued.
They finished up the rest of their shopping and walked back to Hogwarts. They were met at the gate by Dragon. Harry tucked the book closer to him and they made their journey back to the castle.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped. He smirked back at her. She was observing the book and Draco was practically drooling over it.
"I know right. Perfect, huh?" Harry crowed.
"Harry! This should go to a historian! Do you realize what an amazing discovery this is? If you can translate it, it would probably be incredibly helpful in potions discovery's and things!" She shrieked
"Who cares about the advancement in potions? Do you realize what this is? It is the personal potions journal of Salazar Slytherin! Yes, potions advancement is important, but Salazar Slytherin! Gosh, Harry, you're going to make my present to Uncle Sev seem so miniscule compared to this!" Draco complained. Sirius sat in the corner of the room, frustrated to see hisgodson gushing over a present for Severus Snape.
"Who cares." Sirius groaned.
"Me cares." Draco admired the book, looking at it as if it were pure gold. Hermione smacked him on the back of his head to snap him out of his trance. He sheepishly looked down at his lap. She rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, I really wish I could have someone help me. Otherwise, I'll be here all night. I might not even finish before Christmas, unless…." he trailed off, looking at Hermione.
"What are you thinking Harry?" she pondered.
He looked at the spot where he knew the time turner rested around her neck. Then, he looked back, staring her in the eyes.
"No! No way am I letting you use it!" she commanded.
"Please." He whined. Sirius leaned over to Draco.
"Do you know what they are talking about?" He asked
"Nope" he stated plainly.
"Fine!" Harry gave in. "Well, I better get started." He groaned. It was three days till Christmas. Harry had a lot of work to do.
On Christmas Eve, he was finally finished translating the parseltoungue engraved book. The only breaks he had taken were for food, bathroom, and a 20-minute nap here and there. It had been a lot of work, but it was done.
As Harry walked in to the Gryffindor Tower, he was met by a couple of his dorm mates.
"Harry! Mate, we thought you were dead! It's good to see you again, though." Ron greeted.
"Yeah, we were concerned, but Draco said you were just working on a project" Neville added.
"I'm fine, really. Where is Draco?" he wondered. He was answered with a bunch of shrugs. Harry rolled his eyes at his useless dorm mates and went upstairs to get his map and wrap his last present. Once he had wrapped the present for Professor Snape, he went and checked the map. When he found the name Draco Malfoy in Professor Snape's office, he wasn't very surprised. The Professor was the only family Draco really had. Deciding that he could give his present to Professor Snape personally, he traipsed off to the dungeons.
He arrived at the Potions Master's office and knocked politely on the door. It was opened by a surprised Severus Snape greeting him and hesitantly inviting him in.
"What are you doing here, Harry? How did you find me?" Draco asked, the look of pure confusion written all over his face. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"I took a wild guess." Harry replied cheekily, slightly pulling out a piece of parchment from his pocket. Draco caught on and nodded.
"This is for you Professor." Harry said as he handed over the package he had under his arm. Snape took it, albeit warily, and looked at the boy confusedly. "It's a Christmas present, sir, and no I did not prank it or lace it with anything malicious. I'm not completely my father." Harry clarified. The dark man accepted the present and put it on his desk.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. To what do I owe said present?" Severus asked.
"You've given me presents. In first year, I thought you gave me a present out of, well, out of either pity or as a treaty or something like that. Then, I got your present last year and a birthday present and decided to repay the favor. I really enjoyed the book of my mother's. Thank you, by the way. It will be so ever useful next year in charms." Harry acknowledged.
The Professor sighed. "You're welcome, Mr. Potter. I shall open it tomorrow. You two should run along to dinner and then to bed. Goodbye." He offered as he shooed them away. As the door was shut in their faces Draco turned to Harry.
"That was odd. We were in the middle of a conversation." Draco huffed. He looked around Harry. "Where has Dragon run off to? Why isn't he with you?" he queried. Harry shrugged.
"I thought he was following you or Hermione around. I haven't seen him since I started on Professor Snape's present. You're telling me he wasn't with you?" Harry enquired. Draco nodded his head no. Harry furrowed his brow and took out the map. The name Sirius Black was following the name Remus Lupin. Harry sighed.
"I think we have to go save Remus." Harry stated.
"Why? Oh…" Draco realized. They ran to the corridor that the map said Remus currently inhabited. They almost ran directly into the man himself.
"Harry! What's the rush? Where have you been? I've taken up babysitting Dragon here for you because he refused to go find you. Have you been alright?" Remus surveyed the two boys.
"Yeah, Remus, we're fine. I was just looking for Dragon. I have been up the past couple days working on Professor Snape's present and Dragon here seemed to have wondered off." Harry enlightened. Remus nodded.
"Alright well. You should probably go eat. Did you really finish translating?" he asked, looking a tad concerned for the boy.
"Yeah, took me until about an hour ago. Don't worry, I still ate and slept. Anyway, I think you are right. We should go eat. Dragon." Harry called. "See ya Remus, oh and I hope you like my gift." He yelled back as they were walking away. . When they were out of sight Harry turned to glare at Dragon.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Harry scolded.
Sirius lead them in to an abandoned classroom and turned into his human form.
"I didn't expose myself to him. Gosh, that really does sound bad." Sirius grimaced.
Harry rolled his eyes at the statement. "Good. Just don't go off wondering again. You should have stayed with Draco or Hermione, not gone straight to Remus." He reprimanded.
Sirius nodded. "I just wanted to spend time with him. I miss him so much, and he's the only friend I've got left now and he glares every time my name comes up. I saw him reading the paper yesterday." Sirius shivered. "He hates me."
"No, he doesn't. He hates the man he thinks betrayed and murdered his best, and only, friends. When he realizes it wasn't you, he'll hate Peter even more than he has ever hated you." Harry comforted
Meanwhile in Severus Snape's office.
Tears fell from the Potions teacher's eyes as he looked at the present the Golden Boy had given him. The last gift Lily had planned on giving him. A peace treaty, marked only days before she had found out what he was. She had wanted to make things right, he thought. She had wanted to become friends again. If only I had made the right choice. If only I hadn't become a death eater- maybe she would still be alive.