Christmas Dinner

The moment Mrs. Brown stepped outside, she was greeted by quite a lively scene.

At the orphanage gates, swept clean of snow, bags and parcels stood in neat piles. Tempting aromas drifted from them, but no one was nearby.

A figure dressed entirely in black seemed to be trying to leave, without success. Something the size of a cannonball clung to his leg, hanging on so tightly that even when he shook it into the air, it refused to budge.

"What on earth is going on? Didn't I just hear Eliana calling me?"

She stared at the scene in shock. When the figure looked up, she was surprised to find his face was just as dark as his clothes.

The man stopped struggling. An air of utter resignation settled over him.

The lump on his leg seemed dizzy from all the shaking. It staggered to the ground, but one hand remained firmly clamped around the hem of his robe.

"Su... blegh!"

"Ellie? What happened?"

Mrs. Brown hurried over and put most of her body between Eliana and the man, glaring at him warily. "What happened? Don't be afraid. I'm here!"

The man gave a cold laugh. "Does this outrageously bold little Acromantula even know what fear is?"

Mrs. Brown had no idea what an "Acromantula" was, but from Snape's tone, she guessed it was nothing good. She bristled at once.

"Sir, I won't allow you to speak about little Ellie that way. She's a sweet, obedient child—"

"Susan!" Eliana had finally recovered from her dizziness. Oblivious to the atmosphere between them, she cried out excitedly, "This is the amazing teacher I told you about! I tricked him into coming!"

Mrs. Brown: ???

Mrs. Brown: ...

Snape gave another cold laugh. "Ha. Sweet. Hmph. Obedient."

Mrs. Brown felt her toes curl inside her shoes.

"Eliana..." she said slowly through gritted teeth.

When the orphanage has a problem, you help solve it. When it doesn't, you help create one, is that it?!

Happy as could be, Eliana noticed none of the tension. She eagerly announced her battle plan: "He absolutely refused to spend Christmas with us. It took me forever to coax—trick—him over to the orphanage. Susan, hurry up and help me persuade him!"

"Ha, haha." Mrs. Brown forced a smile at the dark-faced man. "Would you like to spend Christmas with us...?"

Her voice dwindled under Snape's furious stare. She lowered her head and scolded Eliana.

"It's Christmas. People want to be with their families. You may want him here, but you can't force a teacher you like to come just because you do. He has his own plans. Be considerate, Ellie."

A faint trace of satisfaction crossed Snape's face.

"He doesn't have plans! He's all alone, just like us!"

Seeing the ally she had summoned about to defect, Eliana shouted desperately.

Mrs. Brown tapped Eliana on the head with a plate. "Who taught you to talk like that?"

She gave Snape, who stood with his arms folded and watched them coldly, an awkward smile. "She means well, sir. It's just that sometimes she speaks without thinking. Please don't take it to heart."

"I doubt she possesses such a thing," Snape said icily.

Mrs. Brown opened her mouth, a little displeased.

The blow had left Eliana seeing stars, but she realized what she'd said had been rude. Her voice dropped a little.

"But it's true. Earlier, um... when I passed by his house, I noticed everything inside looked lonely. There was no festive atmosphere at all. Just books and a few chairs. The carpet hurt my bottom, and I didn't see a single Christmas tree branch or smell any food cooking. I thought spending Christmas somewhere like that must feel awful."

Snape could bear no more. "I see those few minutes in my home were an ordeal for the esteemed Miss Richie. Is that right?"

You call that passing by? It sounds more like you swept the place.

Mrs. Brown fell silent for a moment.

But she had devoted her life and salary to the orphanage for a reason: at heart, she was warm and softhearted. Hearing Eliana's words, she changed her tune at once.

"Oh, is that so? Then, sir," she said warmly, "may we invite you to spend Christmas with us?"

Snape: ???

He stared at Mrs. Brown in shock, as if he couldn't understand how anyone's position could change so easily.

And why did she listen to the child so readily?

Was it right to invite a complete stranger to spend Christmas with them?

Was she American? How could someone act so familiar so quickly? No wonder Eliana was like this!

Like guardian, like child!

Mrs. Brown gave him no time to refuse. She grabbed him and half pushed, half pulled him into the orphanage.

"Come on, young man, have a taste. Not to brag, but my cooking is among the best in London."

Snape let himself be pushed inside like a zombie.

Eliana bounced beside them like she'd won a battle. "Susan, I knew you'd find a way!"

Snape turned his head and shot her a chilling look.

It was Snape's first time at a dinner like this. The long table was crowded with dishes of every size: flatbreads and roast chickens he had watched being made, mashed potatoes drenched in thick gravy, sausages, fried fish, delicate puddings topped with fruit sauce, and a huge cake.

A row of chattering little children gathered around the table, drooling over the rare feast while stealing glances at him.

Snape sat there with a stony face and a vacant stare, letting them look.

"Let me introduce everyone!" a clear voice rang out. Eliana climbed onto a high stool and announced, "This is the teacher I told you about! He's a wonderful person, and I'm honored to have invited him to spend Christmas with us!"

The children burst into excited chatter. Snape could clearly feel their gazes grow warmer.

"Little Ellie is lively, isn't she? She hasn't caused you any trouble, has she?"

Mrs. Brown came out carrying a large platter of macaroni.

Snape said nothing. He ground his molars together.

Mrs. Brown seemed to feel guilty as soon as she'd asked. She tipped nearly all the macaroni onto Snape's plate. "Eat, eat! Have plenty. You're too thin!"

Snape stared at the macaroni piled nearly as high as his chest.

As if that weren't enough, Mrs. Brown stuck several chicken drumsticks on top.

Eliana came over and added a pair of wings.

The younger children edged closer and, trembling but determined, added mashed potatoes, flatbreads, and sausages.

Snape: ...

Wonderful. After Dumbledore's Tooth-Strengthening Potion, he'd have to brew himself a Stomach-Strengthening Potion too.