The smell of various food lingered warmly in the air as dinner ended; the tables were cleared, the teachers were retreating to the staff room and the students were free to spend the rest of their Sunday however they wished until curfew. A group of Ravenclaw's had challenged the Hufflepuffs to a snowball fight and a few Slytherin's had followed them out, no doubt to cause trouble, the majority of Gryffindor's had decided to stay inside and go about their own thing.

Fred and George sat huddled in the corner of the great hall flicking through a potions book carefully scanning every ingredient to work out how they would react with others whilst taking notes on their findings. They were trying to create a new potion that would cause the drinker to only speak in riddles for an hour and they were trying eagerly to perfect it for Ron's upcoming birthday.

Snape scanned the students carefully as he left the hall to make his way towards a small gathering that was being held in the staff room, as much as he would rather have a night to himself he had promised Dumbledore to at least come for an hour. He quickly noticed there was something off about the great hall, he soon realised it was the deadly silence coming from the Weasley twins and he silently made his way over to see what they were doing. He quickly noticed the potions book and raised a brow, although they were always up to no good their knowledge was vast when it came to their experiments "I don't think that specific group of potions are covered in the fifth year curriculum" Snape said bluntly sneaking up on them both.

Both of the twins jumped at the unexpected voice but their faces instantly broke into a grin realising it was Snape, although the majority of students were terrified by the potions master the twins had been in trouble that many times they had worked out through various detentions how far they could push the potions master without being hexed. They also had decided that deep down the professor didn't hate them that much.

"We were just widening our knowledge" George said with a faint smile.

"Expanding our minds" Fred added pulling the most innocent look he could.

"Developing our understanding on various components to the arts of potion making" George grinned.

"And why are you doing that?" he asked completely uninterested in their antics.

"To broaden our horizons" Fred smirked.

"To familiarize ourselves with a broader range of conceptions" George added.

"As long as it's not to blow up the school" Snape said sarcastically before turning and walking away, he knew they were up to something but it was almost Christmas, and although he wasn't particularly ecstatic about the holidays he shrugged it off knowing he would work out what they were doing based on what ingredients they ended up asking to use anyway.

Snape caught a glimpse of Harry out the corner of his eye as he went to exit the hall, the boy was sitting alone, watching the Christmas tree carefully, more so the star at the top and he wondered what the boy was thinking of. The Gryffindor table was alive with laughter as they all shared conversations and played happily together and usually he would be at the centre of it all, but tonight Potter didn't seem interested in the games. He shrugged it off knowing the boy probably just missed his family, after all he was only thirteen which is still considerably young to be away from home at Christmas, he scoffed thinking Potter would be the type to miss the likes of Petunia Dursley; snobby, self-centred and rude. He quickly exited the hall to join the mini gathering in the staff room not wasting another thought on what the golden boys issue was today.

. . .

Harry continued to stare up at the tree completely oblivious to Snape's glare, he blinked to force a tear away from his eyes to stop himself from crying. His mind continued to scan over yesterday's events again, Sirius Black was his godfather. He sighed and dropped his head into his hands feeling nothing but shame, his godfather was a cold-hearted killer, he slowly felt the anger rising when he reminded himself of how much he had lost due to one man.

"Are you okay, mate" Ron asked curiously pulling himself up on the table to sit next to Harry.

"Yeah, mate" Harry sighed.

"Missing your folks?" Ron asked and Harry nodded "well there's always a Weasley jumper at ours if you ever want it" he said rolling his eyes at. Harry laughed lightly and looked back up at the twinkling Christmas tree.

"I wonder what my parents thought of Christmas at Hogwarts" Harry said almost to himself hoping to distract himself and Ron from what was really wrong.

"Ask Lupin?" Ron suggested.

Harry shook his head, he knew he could talk to Remus about anything but he couldn't help but think that every time Remus looked at him he just saw James, but a lesser version of James that only reminded him of how much he had lost, deep down he wondered if that was how everybody saw him. "He knows more about my dad and I don't want to upset him, especially because of everything with Black" Harry shrugged and Ron nodded not wanting to push his friend too far.

"Hey, Harry" George whispered and Harry turned instantly "look what we have" he said gesturing Harry should move closer. Both of the boys moved over to the twins as they revealed four bottles of vodka hidden amongst their robes.

"Why do you have that?" Harry asked.

"We're going to celebrate more outside before curfew" Fred answered.

"Why are we celebrating?" Ron asked.

"It's Christmas next week, why not?" George smiled.

"You can't do that" Harry frowned "you'll get in trouble" he said.

"We're not going to get drunk though, just have one or two to celebrate plus we don't plan on getting caught" George explained " you don't have to drink if you don't want to but you're welcome to come"

"I'm going" Ron added.

"Your mum will kill you" Harry said to the three of them and they all shrugged.

"She won't find out" Fred smirked.

"Where did you get it from?" Harry asked.

"Lad in the year above, but that's not important" George said dismissing the questions.

"Don't do it, Harry" Hermione hissed, she must have hard the clinking of the bottles and was promptly making her way over "it's not worth the trouble you'll end up in"

"I don't get why you would want to drink" Harry said shaking his head, the Dursley's weren't huge drinkers other than Uncle Vernon's occasional pint so he had never understood the hype.

"It just makes you really happy and woozy, it's funny honestly" Fred said and Harry nodded, cheering up was what he needed right now, he did remember a time Uncle Vernon had people from work over for wine and he heard lots of laughing coming from the kitchen, it did sound fun. He also remembered Uncle Vernon moaning the next day about how he couldn't remember everything and maybe that was what Harry needed, to forget everything for a while.

"Okay, let's go" Harry said getting up.

"Harry!" Hermione hissed.

"Don't come if you don't want to" he said simply.

"Fine, I won't!" she snapped before storming out the hall back towards Gryffindor tower, she wasn't going to tell on her friends in case they lost any points but she also wasn't going to be part of it.

. . .

A few hours later Fred, George, Ron and Harry all sat around a tree just outside the Forbidden Forest still drinking, both of the twins were hysterically laughing at each other and at Ron, who was still sober after deciding he didn't like the taste of vodka. Harry on the other hand was slurring his words and swaying aimlessly, he quickly dropped the empty bottle onto the grass and dropped his head as it suddenly felt heavier.

"Harry, you've had enough" George lectured waving his finger at the boy who only groaned.

"Potter can't handle his drink" Fred mocked and both of the twins giggled lightly.

"Who can?" George said, his eyes widening with fake shock.

"Let's go back to the castle, Harry" Ron said giving Harry a nudge, he was growing concerned by the second about how quickly his friend had become drunk and the tipsy twins didn't seem concerned.

"I'm Fine" Harry mumbled.

"You don't look it mate, let's go I'm cold" Ron said yanking Harry who pulled away.

"Why do people always think there's something wrong with me!?" Harry shouted getting to his feet "just because what's-his-face is after me and that…man has escaped doesn't mean I'm not fine…because I'm fine!" Harry slurred waving his hand dismissively.

"I know you're fine, I promise" Ron said softly "let's go mate"

"Fine!" Harry shouted.

. . .

Harry stumbled back towards the castle suddenly overwhelmed with feelings of upset, anger and nausea. He was hoping to forget everything that had happened but the drink only made him remember more as the memories spun frantically in his mind. He could feel his chest tightening with the panic over the fact that his emotions felt stronger than normal and he didn't know how to control them; suddenly he just wanted to break down and cry.

"Harry!" Ron shouted catching up with him quickly "stop you're going to get in trouble!" he said, his eyes wide with concern.

"Who cares, Ron?" Harry shouted swinging around to see his friend "because I don't care!" he shouted at Ron who was swaying heavily.

"Let's get you to bed, mate" Ron said softly.

"I'm going to look at the Christmas tree" Harry slurred before turning and continuing to stumble back towards the castle.

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Why do people do anything, Ron?" Harry hissed unsure of the answer himself.

"We'll see it tomorrow, c'mon I don't want expelled" Ron pleaded but Harry was too drunk to care. He didn't truly even want to look at the tree as it only reminded him of how alone he felt, just like every other Christmas it only reminded him of how alone he truly was; he didn't even have the option to go home to a family. He sighed as he felt the tears slowly begin to trickle down his cheeks as they entered the castle.

"Y'know I hate Christmas" he mumbled leaning against a wall trying to make sense of his thoughts "it's just people being happy about nothing"

"It's a time to celebrate" Ron reminded him.

"I have nothing to celebrate, Ron!" Harry screamed "in case you've forgotten there's a man on the loose that wants to kill me and he also happens to be my godfather that betrayed my parents"

"Harry…"

"And I can't even go home for a few weeks to get away from it all because I don't have a home, I don't have anyone" he said kicking over a large plant pot that smashed instantly.

"You have me" Ron said softly moving closer to his now sobbing friend.

. . .

"I think today was a success" Professor McGonagall said as her and Professor Snape made their way down the corridor after the mini party in the staffroom.

"It's not curfew yet, there's plenty of time for trouble" he said simply making her chuckle lightly.

"Ever the optimist, Severus" she smiled.

"Well the Weasley twins have been too quiet for the past few hours" he said knowing well enough the longer the twins remained quiet and in the shadows the worse the prank would be to clean up, McGonagall rolled her eyes in response and he gently scoffed.

"Just leave me alone!" a voice screamed from down the corridor.

"That's Harry" McGonagall said, her voice filled with concern as they broke into a run and made their way towards the shouting.

"You don't understand, Ron!"

"I'm not trying to…"

"Well then why are you talking? Why is everybody always talking!?"

"Mr Potter, what is going on?" McGonagall demanded as they found both the boys arguing. Harry was now slumped on the ground with his knees up to his chest next to the smashed plant pot and Ron seemed desperate to get his friend to stop crying.

"He's just upset, Professor" Ron explained when Harry only continued to sob quietly into his arms. He gulped as his eyes briefly met Snape's, it was obvious he was analysing his words for any lies.

"What about? What's happened?" she demanded.

"I'm not sure, Professor" Ron said innocently quickly realising the amount of trouble they were bound to get in. He gulped loudly at Snape's penetrating glare.

"Are you sure about that, Mr Weasley?" he demanded silkily.

"He's fine, I'll take him back to our room" Ron insisted but Snape instantly held up his hand to stop him from trying to yank the still sobbing boy from the floor, partly because he was worried Harry would stumble into the broken glass, he could smell the vodka and he wasn't stupid.

"I just want left alone" Harry mumbled and Snape rolled his eyes 'ever the dramatic just like James Potter' he thought to himself glaring down at the stubborn boy.

"Go back to your dorm, Mr Weasley" Professor McGonagall instructed.

"But…"

"Now" she demanded sternly and Ron gulped and after taking one final glance at Harry he left quickly.

"Harry, speak to me" she said softly leaning down next to him, she could instantly smell the vodka and she sighed.

"I don't want to speak" Harry sobbed.

"What do you want then?" she asked and Snape scoffed, even in his obviously drunken state the golden boy was going to get what he wanted. His blood quickly began to boil at how entitled the brat was, any other student would have been dragged to a teacher's office by now.

"I want my mum" Harry said simply "I just want my mum"

Snape's eyes grew wide at the boys' confession; he was still pining for Lily and clearly distraught over it. His eyes met Minerva's and she sighed lightly knowing there wasn't much she could do.

"Harry, Lily and James will always be with you" she finally said softly.

"That's just what people say to make you feel better and it doesn't work" he said still hiding his face in his arms.

"I think we should get you to bed" she said putting a hand on his shoulder realising there was no point trying to reason with a drunk, Harry instantly flinched at the unexpected contact and shrugged her off.

Snape raised a brow at how quickly Harry flinched; although Professor McGonagall seemed oblivious he had flinched defensively, as if he expected the touch to cause him pain. "You can't lie on the floor all night" Snape said simply.

"What do you care?" Harry mumbled still not looking up.

Snape instantly opened his mouth to strike but McGonagall held her hand up shooting him a warning look, he quickly closed his mouth and sighed realising he wasn't winning this one.

"Is anything else upsetting you, Harry?" she asked "you're not normally like this"

"It's one thing after another because I'm a jinx" he slurred.

"Are you talking about Sirius Black?" she asked and he instantly looked up, his eyes puffy and blood shot from crying. "Come sit down and we'll talk about it?" she said gesturing towards her office and Harry shook his head, partly because he was now unable to get off the floor.

"I want to stay here" he insisted.

"Okay" she said simply.

"He handed them over to Voldemort" Harry said as if the Professor's didn't already know.

"I know, Harry" McGonagall said.

"And he was my godfather" Harry gasped before dropping his head back into his arms "he was supposed to look after me"

"Godfather or not once he is back in Azkaban you'll never have to think of him again" she reassured him.

"He's taken everything from me" Harry said "more than just my parents"

"What do you mean?" she asked not quite understanding.

"My Dad and Professor Lupin were friends so he can tell me about my dad, but I don't know any of my mums' friends, he was supposed to tell me those things because he would have been close to them both" he said and soon he was crying again.

"I can tell you about your mum" she offered but he instantly shook his head "and Professor Lupin knew her very well".

"I want to know things like her favourite food, or what her childhood was like" he explained "I want to know what she did for fun outside of school and I want to see photos and hear stories and I can't because he's taken that from me"

"I don't know the answer to those, Harry" she said simply looking over at Snape who was now looking lost in thought, she sighed knowing the man wouldn't be very willing to help and turned her attention back to the sobbing child "but I'm sure if we try we can find other ways to make you feel better"

"I just want my mum" he mumbled looking up again.

Snape's held his breath completely shocked about what he was hearing but unsure of how to help. He scolded himself knowing he had failed Lily. Maybe if he had been more open with the boy like the other teachers had he could have shared his stories the same as they had and maybe have prevented this entire situation but he had ruined that now, the teen hated him. He had managed multiple times to physically protect the boy but emotionally he had been doing nothing but blocking him out. He watched as Professor McGonagall pulled an unwilling Harry into a hug, Harry instantly frowned but soon stopped crying at the comfort.

"I don't feel well" he mumbled getting to his feet.

"That will be the alcohol, Potter" Snape said finally breaking his silence.

"Obviously" Harry said glaring defensively at the potions master "I bet you're enjoying this" Harry spat now growing angry in his drunken state.

"Harry" Professor McGonagall warned.

"Well he hates me, my dad and probably my mum as well, he'll be taking Black to the Leaky Cauldron for a pint" he slurred.

"That's enough!" McGonagall said raising her voice slightly and he instantly shut up realising he had gone too far. He turned his attention to Snape fully expecting the man to kill him but the Professor looked more surprised than angry.

Snape raised a brow knowing how wrong the boy was but he didn't say anything, although the boys' actions were downright irresponsible he sighed knowing it was partly their fault for not offering him enough support in the first place. "I think we should take you to my quarters and sober you up" Snape said simply and McGonagall looked curiously at his now calm nature.

"No, you'll cook me" Harry said and to his surprise Snape let out a small laugh "oh yeah, funny" Harry said sarcastically before stumbling into the wall.

"Come on, Potter" he said and Harry froze.

"I'm not coming" he said, his voice now filled with concern as he looked over at Professor McGonagall for backup. Snape instantly rolled his eyes at the typical Gryffindor mannerisms, as bold as they could be they were good at hiding behind their head of house when need be, especially when it came to him.

"I'm coming too, Harry" Professor McGonagall said realising the fear of being left with the now insulted potions master, who she was silently praising for holding his temper.

"I need to be sick" Harry mumbled before throwing up all over himself.

"Charming" Snape said quickly performing a cleaning charm.

"What's wrong with me?" Harry asked.

"You're drunk, Potter, I thought you'd realised that" Snape sighed.

"But I thought it made you happy"

"Not always, come on now" Snape said almost gently realising the teen didn't fully understand what it meant to get drunk, he wondered how much of a sheltered life Harry had been living outside of school.

"Who told you that?" Professor McGonagall asked stopping them once more.

"The…people" Harry stopped himself before accidentally telling on the twins.

"What people" Snape asked.

"Just some people" he slurred.

"The Weasley twins" he said simply.

"How did you know that?" Harry gasped.

"I didn't but I do now" he said simply.

"You tricked me!" Harry shouted.

"Harry?" Professor Lupin asked as he made his way down the same corridor, he instantly noticed Harry looked like he was about to smack Professor Snape "what's happened?" he asked looking at the potions master defensively.

"I'm a failure, Sir" Harry slurred.

"Is he drunk?" he asked completely shocked at the other professors who both nodded.

"It was supposed to make me happy, but I'm just sad and smell bad"

"We're taking him to my quarters" Snape said firmly.

"Why? He can come to mines" Remus insisted protectively standing in front of Harry.

"Mines are closer" Snape reminded him simply.

"I don't care, he's James son so that makes him my responsibility"

"He's no more your responsibility than he is mines, Remus" Snape warned and Remus sighed knowing the potions master was right.

"It's okay, he promised not to cook me" Harry reassured Professor Lupin who just eyed him with concern.

"That I did, Potter" Snape said absently, he consciously backed off and let Remus guide Harry to avoid any more fighting, it had always been obvious Remus would end up growing protective over Harry and now it was showing.

With great effort the Professors managed to guide Harry to the dungeons only banging into the occasional wall. Harry slurred the entire time about how stupid he was and that even his owl wasn't going to want to be his friend anymore.

"I just want a normal school year with no freaky stones, giant snakes or escaped loons" he mumbled.

"Don't we all, Potter?" Snape said helping Remus steady him.

Harry quickly collapsed on Snape's sofa and closed his eyes "not so fast, Potter" he said and Harry's eyes instantly shot open "drink this" he said handing the boy a glass of water.

"What is it?" Harry frowned.

"Water" he said simply before heading into the kitchen.

"Where's he going?" Harry asked curiously.

"Harry" Remus warned him "be quiet and drink your water"

Snape returned a few minutes later with some buttered bread "It will soak up the alcohol and you'll feel less sick in the morning" he explained.

"How long will I feel sick for?" Harry asked curiously "nobody told me about that part" he mumbled to himself.

"A few hours" he said simply.

Snape and Lupin quickly followed McGonagall into the kitchen leaving Harry to eat his bread, he watched as she dropped her head into her hands and sighed. "I don't know what to do with him" she admitted simply "the problems he has I can't fix" she said.

"What's this all about?" Remus asked still in the dark.

"He misses Lily and he's blaming Black for it" McGonagall explained.

"Well you can't blame him" he replied dryly.

"He feels Sirius should have been the one to tell him stories of his mother because he knew her well" she continued to explain.

"He knew her no better than I did" Remus said frowning "why doesn't he just ask you?" he asked looking at Snape.

Snape sighed but didn't say anything, he was feeling completely conflicted about the entire situation; he had never particularly liked Harry due to him being the son of James but he had never really tried to get to know the child, but with how things between him and Lily ended would she want him to have a relationship with her son? Overall he felt protective of the boy, he had never thought of how Harry must have been affected with not having parents. He also knew by Harry's drunken hostility the teen didn't want to be anywhere near him and he knew deep down he had caused that.

"I also don't know where to put him tonight, he can't go back to the tower" Professor McGonagall said changing the subject when she noticed Snape's empty eyes filling with pain.

"Just leave him on the sofa?" Snape suggested and she raised a brow "well if he's here he's not causing any more trouble and he's safer if he ends up throwing up again" he explained.

"On your sofa, Severus?" she asked completely shocked.

"It's the easiest option, Minerva, it would take a lot to move him again" he said simply.

"I don't know" she said shaking her head "he's fragile right now"

"I'm not going to hurt him" Snape scoffed.

"It's no secret your tongue has always been sharp when it comes to Harry" she said with a slightly defensive tone.

"That's unfair" Snape said simply but he quickly realised by the witches' expression that it wasn't up for discussion.

"He can stay, but I will be the one handing out punishments and floo me as soon as he wakes up tomorrow morning" she said and he nodded.

"As a Potter family friend that understands the situation I would like to be present" Remus said and Snape rolled his eyes lightly.

"Very well, Remus" McGonagall replied.

They made their way back into the living room to find Harry completely passed out on the sofa with the bread still in his hand. McGonagall shook her head lightly before making her way to the floo with Professor Lupin "I'll see you in the morning" she said simply and Snape nodded.

He watched the others leave before turning his attention back to Harry, he was fast asleep mumbling about snitches. Gently he took the blanket from the back of the sofa and dropped it over him and removed the piece of bread from the boys hand "I'm sorry I failed you, Harry" he whispered before leaving a fresh glass of water next to him and heading towards his own bed needing to put a room between himself and Harry to digest his conflicting emotions.

Severus lay wide awake in bed and his thoughts quickly turned back to his own Hogwarts days and being in the company of James Potter, he could still feel every hex and hit he had taken over the years if he concentrated hard enough and suddenly he felt small again. He sighed heavily as his mind turned to the Marauders as a whole and he began comparing them to Harry and his friends and he soon realised there wasn't much in way of similarities, the more he thought about it Harry was nothing like James; other than the love for fame the boy wasn't a bully and got on with the likes of Neville Longbottom. The friends Harry also kept didn't cause half as much trouble as the Marauders did and they always seemed to be the first to jump in to defend people. He sighed closing his eyes realising he wouldn't work it out overnight.

So I decided to start writing something new! This was an idea I couldn't get out of my head and I had to write it to end the nagging sensation. I'm about 4 chapters into this so far and I'm absolutely loving how the relationships are growing and I couldn't help but want to share it! As of right now I don't know how long it will be so I'm just going to see where it goes. "An Unlikely Family" is still my main focus but I enjoy writing more than one thing at a time so if I get writers block I can just work on the other : )

Review if you can.