He knew the moment he woke that it had come in the night. The one thing this time of year brought that turned even the surliest people almost giddy: snow. It signified the beginning of the holiday season and with it all the merriment and good tiding one could choke down. For most it brought the comforts of family, friends, and the inevitable outdoor activities, like being buried to your neck in a deep bank. For Severus Snape, snow was a nightmare.

He’d never held a fondness for this time of year anyway. There’d been no holiday cheer for him at home. But the snow... He dreaded it, really. Severus did all he could to avoid being caught on the grounds, least Potter and company be on the loose. It was just his luck that his best friend, Lily, loved this time of year – especially the snow.

He was supposed to meet her by the greenhouses so they could exchange their gifts and collect some ingredients for a potion he’d be working on for extra credit over the break. For the briefest moment, he thought to beg off sick, but couldn’t bring himself to not see Lily before she left on holiday.

The blanket on the ground was to his ankles and still coming down in a curtain before him. He grumbled to himself, wondering how anyone could find the phenomenon even the least bit romantic. It’s frozen atmosphere, for Merlin’s sake. Then again, picturing Lily with snowflakes caught in her hair and eyelashes... Severus reached the greenhouse where they’d agreed to meet and, not finding Lily there yet, allowed his thoughts to linger on her a while longer.

This year he’d use this wintry incident to his benefit. Her cheeks would be rosy from the wind and the snow would be falling all around. He’d reach up to gently brush away the flakes that had settled on her cheeks and nose. Blushing, she would shiver. Asking her if the cold was too much for her, she would coyly reply that she could use some warming up. Then, Severus would make his move: he would take her into his arms, holding her tight, and not caring if their presents fell at their feet. He would finally get the only gift he’d dreamt of since meeting her, looking deeply into those emerald eyes; her soft lips would part invitingly and –

“Ahhhh!”

That fat arse, Pettigrew, came barrelling around the corner, careening into Severus and sending him sprawling into a bank of fresh powder. The three other idiots were in hot pursuit and stopped dead in their tracks upon finding the two boys laid flat in the snow.

“Well, what do we have here?”

“Looks like Snivellus is making snow angels. Lads, in the name of holiday spirit, let’s help the poor sod out!”

He scrambled helplessly in the slick bank as they advanced on him.

For Severus Snape, snow was a nightmare.