Chapter five- Avoidance and Giving

Harry finally emerged for dinner, knowing he would worry his friends is he stayed away any longer. He used his invisibility cloak to get to the entrance hall then slipped into a cupboard to put it away.

He walked in and sat down next to Ginny, who didn't notice at first as she was, once again, starring at the Slytherin table. When she did, she noticed that he looked a bit pale but was distracted by Ron and Hermione sitting down opposite them, bickering about Ron's study habits.

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione said, "I really think you should give up Quidditch, you're having enough trouble keeping up with your homework now, imagine what it will be like when we need to revise on top of that."

"But Hermione," Ron whined. "If I quit, then the team will need to find a new keeper and they don't have time to train another one. Besides, I'd rather fly than study." Ron began to fill his plate while Hermione seemed to being trying to control her temper.

"Ron!" Hermione yelled when it didn't work. "You want to be an Auror. To get into the training program you need five Newt's in-"

"Hermione, they've already offered me a place as long as I get an Exceeds Expectations in DADA and Potions," Ron said. Hermione stared at him. "What?"

"When did this happen?" Ginny asked, joining in the conversation. The pair looked jumped and looked over as if only just realising where they were.

"Oh, during the Christmas holidays. Kingsley told me when we arrived."

"See, you still need to study," Hermione said. "You need to get your grade up in potions, at the moment you're at Acceptable. And I think you should still the quit the team, you may not complete the Auror course, only about ten percent do you know, so you need other options."

"What about Harry, why are you only picking on me?" Ron whined.

His distraction worked and Hermione turned to Harry. "There's no need to shout at me, I've already handed in my resignation and captains badge. Either Ginny or you should be receiving it any day now," Harry said without looking up from pushing his food about his plate. All three stared at him for a minute before Ron exploded.

"YOU DID WHAT?"

Everyone turned to look at them. "You resigned as Captain and quit the team! Are you mental?! How are we meant to win the cup now?! Why?!" Ron continued to shout and every mouth in the hall dropped open in shock while the teachers watched sadly from the head table.

"I need to concentrate on my NEWT'S Ron," Harry said quietly, pushing away from the table. "I'll see you in the common room," he muttered as he walked away just as the twins approached. He dodged them and practically sprinted from the hall.

"Did we hear that right?" one of the twins asked.

"Harry's resigned from the Quidditch team and given up his captaincy?" the other asked.

"That's what he just told us," Ginny said faintly. She frowned. "Is it me or has his attitude changed since this morning?"

"Mmm," Hermione said, thinking about it. "I think your right. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since breakfast. I wonder what happened." The twins shared a look but no one noticed. Everyone finished his meal and headed up to the common room to find Harry curled up in his normal armchair by the fire, reading a book.

He looked up at them when they approached, "Hey." Hermione and Ginny went to sit but Harry shook his head and stood himself. "I told everyone else to meet at the ROR after dinner," he explained,

They traded looks, he still seemed upset and Ginny noticed he was still pale. He avoided the twins as he walk towards the portrait hole, slipping his map out as he walked. He stopped and stared at the map and the others moved to look over his shoulder to see what was wrong. They stared too.

"Am I really seeing this?" Ron asked.

"I think so, I mean, we know the map is never wrong," Hermione said, shacking herself out of her shock.

"Why are Draco and Snape's dot's practically on top of each other?" Ginny asked, confused.

"It means," Harry said quietly, "That they are either snogging or in a compromising position." He smothered a grin; on the map, already in the ROR were Severus and Draco. Harry had feeling that Seamus, Dean, Padma and Lavender, who were already nearing the seventh floor corridor, were going to get the shock of their lives.

"Come on," Harry said, quickly checking and confirming that all of his friends were on their way toward the room. He put the map away and stepped through the portrait hole. His friends all shook themselves before following.

"So," Harry said as Bill, Charlie and the original Gryffindor chasers sat down. "Ask away."

"What happened?"

"What was it like?"

"Was it boring being in the hospital wing during Christmas?"

"Have you opened your gifts yet?"

"What did you do with the paint?"

"Whoa," Harry said, holding up his hands for silence as he tried to think of answers for every question. "Give me a chance to answer. Seamus, I was ill over the Christmas holidays and had to be isolated. Pansy, it was horrid. At first I as only throwing up and then I started to get delirious. I was so hot. I don't really remember much after that."

Harry had had years of lying. Answering Hermione and Ron's questions about where he had been when he was in the hospital wing, being topped up with meds. Lying last year about where he was going when he was either going off with Albus or talking to his spy's.

"I haven't had a chance to open my gifts yet, Padma," Harry said to the now lone twin. "I was planning to wait tell Saturday and invite you all over to Grimmuald place so I can open them with Sirius and Remus. And Ginny, I'll show you." He closed his eyes and thought of his room in the hospital wing and how he wanted to go there. He heard a gasp and opened his eyes. He was facing a door which he guessed lead to his hospital room. He stood and opened it. He grinned.

"Harry, what?" Ginny asked moving to peer over his shoulder. Harry turned in time to see her jaw drop and eyes go wide in shock. "Harry!" she gasped. Everyone else scrambled to see what she was so shocked about and Harry stepped out of the way.

"It's beautiful," Hermione murmured. She looked up and stared. "Oh, Harry," she whispered and then pointed it, and the scene depicted on the floor, out to the others.

"I never knew you could draw Harry," Dean said, sounding interested. Everyone jumped when Harry laughed.

"I can't," he told the black teen, "There my memory's, magically implanted onto the room through the paint." Everyone stared at him. He looked around and pouted. "Madam Pomfrey removed the sticking charm. I liked everything upside down."

He grinned wickedly but before he could lift his wand it was snatched out of his hand. "I don't think so," Severus's voice said from behind him. Harry turned to see him pocketing his wand. He glared but the potions master only smiled grimly. "It took Albus nearly an hour to remove your charm, Harry." The name still sounded weird when any of the Slytherin's said it, Harry mused, grinning cheekily.

"Don't grin like that, you look like your mother when she was about to do something stupid or wind up your father," Severus said. Harry liked listening to his professor talk about his mother but he did notice that he never used her name. Harry still felt sorry for the man but was glad that he had gotten over his death enough to love again. His hand clasped around Draco was evidence enough, as well as the slightly scared minds of Seamus and Dean. Harry had laughed himself into another attack when the two girls had told him it was kind of hot.

"What do you mean, 'Memory's magically implanted onto the room through the paint?" Draco asked, bringing him out of his musing.

"My magic's grown since that bastard's soul was removed from my body," Harry explained. "It's grown slightly wild and if I want something, even if it's just a passing want, like say I wanted a quill to write something, one would suddenly appear in front of me. Madam P said that the soul piece must have been stunting my magical development in some way and now that it's gone my magic will grow till it's finished and I'll have to learn control it."

"That doesn't explain what you meant," Draco said as they made their way back into the ROR. The door disappeared behind them as they reclaimed their seats.

"I wanted something to do; I was only thinking of splattering the room in paint when I collected it. But one of my fever dreams appeared on the wall the next day and I experimented a bit removing and imprinting them on the walls. Then I got really ill and my dreams were mostly about the bastard and the things he did to me through the years. I came out of it and the walls were like that. I experimented a bit and decided to keep the images as they were but to cheer up the room by putting some good memories on the ceiling and put scenes from the final battle on the floor."

This was half true, he'd actually splattered the walls with paint and then accidently touched his wand to the wall. The paint had changed into a picture and after that Harry had changed it until he was happy. He'd done the same to the floor and the roof, although getting the paint on the roof had been difficult.

"So in a way, you did accidental magic," Ginny laughed. He glared at her but she only smiled sweetly at him. "Well, when you think about it, it sounds like accidental magic," she pointed out logically, making the rest of the room laugh and Harry grumble.

"Whatever," he said, trying to sound dismissive and failing horribly by the way they sniggered. "Anyway, any more questions?"

"Me and Neville have one but its private," she said, both her and her boyfriend giving him a meaningful glance. Harry nodded and they both relaxed.

"I have one," Hermione said. Harry braced himself for the onslaught he would get about quitting Quiddich and was surprised. "Where have you been all day, you weren't in any classes and you weren't at lunch either?"

Harry sighed to himself. "I was in here, Hermione," he answered. "The professors said there was no point going back to class until Monday."

Several people opened their mouth's to complain but Ron shut them up. "Why have you quit Quiddich?" he demanded.

Harry rolled his eyes while inside he was begging they believed him. "I want to concentrate on my NEWTS, you have a guaranteed job when you leave, I don't. I need my NEWTS and anyway, it's best that you start training a seeker ready for next year." All true if you thought about it the right way.

"What do you mean you don't have a guaranteed job, Kingsley told me we would be partners?" Ron asked bemused.

"I turned him down, I don't want to be an Auror," Harry said, which was completely truthful. "I've had enough of fighting; I don't know what I want to do yet." Also true, if he wasn't going to die he wouldn't know what he was going to do once he graduated.

"But-"

"Ron, leave it, I can see where he's coming from," Lavender said. Ron grumbled but sat back down. Hermione glared slightly, remembering when she had dated Ron. Harry internally rolled his eyes. "Who do think would be good for your replacement?" Ginny asked.

"There's this second year, something Tobin. He's a Half-Blood whose dad played Seeker when he was here. I've seen him muck about with his mates, he's pretty good. Or there's Jamie Applestone, she was talking about trying out next year. I haven't seen her play but…"

"How do you know all these people?" Padma asked bemused.

"I don't," Harry laughed. "I've just seen them around and anyway, as captain it's my job to be on the lookout for Quidditch players. I was going to have Tobin on reserve after the match against Hufflepuff so he was ready for next year." Harry shrugged at their inquiring gazes. "Oh and Ginny, Dennis is a pretty good keeper, if you trained him up a bit he could be good for next year. I know you're planning to stay on and help Madam P, maybe you could help the team out in your spare time."

Ginny grinned, "Did you know that I had an offer last month from the Holyhead Harpies to join as a reserve chaser? I told them no though; I'd rather stay in one piece thanks." She ignored Ron mouthing at her in shock and stood stretching.

"I believe we should return to our common rooms, curfew is in 20 minutes," Severus said, standing and pulling Draco to his feet.

"Yeah," Harry said also standing. "Owl your parents for permission to leave the school either this weekend or next, I'm heading to the owlery to ask Sirius and Remus if we can use Grimmuald Place for a second Christmas day." Hermione nodded and she dragged the rest of the Gryffindor's off. Harry noticed Justin glance at Seamus before heading off to the Hufflepuff common room. He smirked to himself.

He was about to head off to the owlery when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He faced Luna and Neville and groaned at the look on their faces. "When are you going to tell everyone, Harry?" Neville asked.

"I don't know," he sighed. "I don't think I can."

"Then show them," Luna said dreamily. Harry gave her a puzzled look.

"She means let them figure it out," Neville explained. "Have Poppy send a house elf to tell you you've missed an appointment then let them find out for themselves. Anyway, what really happened? We know that it had something to do with It." Harry quickly explained what Poppy had told him.

"What Poppy doesn't seem to have realised is that when I go to the Hollow, I'll get worse fast because I'm away from the wards," Harry ended with. He checked his watch to fins that it was five minutes to curfew. "You two better hurry, you've five minutes." Then he ran off in the direction of the owlery.

He whistled when he arrived and conjured sum parchment, a quill and ink. He quickly wrote out his letter to his godfathers and tied it to Hedwig to deliver. Then he legged it back to the common room making it back five minutes after he should have been back. He didn't feel up to mucking about with the other Gryffindor's, besides he could see the twins where trying to get his attention. He told Ginny and Hermione he was off to bed and then headed up to the dorm. He pulled his robe off and collapsed on the bed, asleep only a minute later.

That was how his dorm mates found him and Neville took the initiative to magic his cloths to P-J's and then put his sheets over him. Harry didn't even stir.

Hey Sirius, Remus.

I was wondering, as I never got to celebrate Christmas with the rest of you if we could have like a second Christmas. I was thinking of inviting all my friends and we could all get permission to leave school either this weekend or next and have a repeat. Please? This way I get to open my presents with you too.

Please say yes and invite the order. It'll be fun.

Harry.

Oh and guess who's got together. Draco and Sev, finally. Now if only everyone else would get on with it and ask out their significant other then I'll finally get some peace and quiet.

"So, what's he say," Sirius said impatiently. Him, Remus, Kingsley, Tonks and Amelia were sat around the living room, Kingsley and Tonks on the love seat, Amelia curled up in the armchair and Remus and Sirius were sat at opposite of the sofa. They had been discussing names for the baby when Hedwig had flown through the window.

Remus reread the letter, this time out loud.

"Oh, oh, I need to put the decorations back up and write out invites and let Molly know so that she can start cooking and…and…" Sirius bounced around the room as he talked nonstop about his plans for the weekend.

"And you need to reply to Harry telling him it's ok and which weekend he and his friends can come," a highly amused Amelia interrupted. Remus shook his head and pulled a bit of parchment towards him.

"I'll do it," he muttered, already writing.

Tonks and Kingsley stood, chuckling. "We should get going, thanks for dinner," Kingsley said. "We'll try and come but work takes priority at the moment."

"Yeah, yeah," Sirius said distractedly as he started unpacking the decorations that he had only just taken down that day.

"We hope you can but if you can't you will be missed," Remus said as he stood, letter in hand and smacked Sirius round the head as he moved past. "I'll show you out, Amelia, are staying to help or will you be staying in the spare room?"

"I think I'll get away from the insanity that Sirius is most probably about to succumb to," Amelia said, stretching and standing. Remus chuckled as he showed them out before whistling for Hedwig.

"Hello, pretty girl," he cooed when she landed on his shoulder. "I need you to take this to Harry, please, beautiful." Hedwig held out her leg and Remus attached the rolled up scroll to it. She gave him a small nip on the ear before she took off.

Remus smiled before heading back inside to, as Amelia would have said; deal with the insanity that is Sirius Black.

"Shall we try this again," Harry said as he walked into the kitchen where the females were all cooking and setting the table and the males were sat around the table talking about the latest Quiddich game. Harry froze in the doorway, his eyes fixed on the opposite wall. "Is that..?" he asked softly as he watched the poster of a young red haired girl and a boy who could have been his twin but for the brown eyes.

"Yeah, that's Lily and James. They were… acquaintances in their first year, when Sna-Severus was nothing to us. We became more…vindictive towards him when James started to like you mum and Severus used Dark based spells back at us," Sirius looked apologetic towards Severus only to jump slight when he saw Draco curled up into his side. "Since when were you gay?!" he blurted. Harry smacked him upside the head as he walked to sit next to Remus.

"If you must know, Black, I have always had an interest in both genders but since… Her, I haven't been interested in females," Snape replied.

"Sorry, it was none of my business," Sirius muttered before bouncing back to his excitable self. "So Harry," he asked, interrupting Harry and Remus's conversation on school. "How do you want to do this? We've already swapped presents, although we couldn't find yours."

"Well, I'm hungry, so eat first then I'll give each of you your presents and then you can give me mine, that okay?"

"That's fine Harry," Remus said next to him as Sirius bounced away to collect everyone's presents for Harry.

"Harry, Remus, duck!" a voice shouted and they didn't hesitate, ducking under the table only four bowls flew through the air where their heads had been a few seconds ago and landed in front of them.

"What the hell?!" Theo yelled from where he was talking to Blaise and Lavender as he got splashed with soup. "Fred! George!" Harry ignored the two men who came up behind him and began apologising to the three of them. He turned his body away from George's hand as he tried to rube some of the soup off his shoulder.

"I'm going to change my shirt and give Sirius my presents," he said as he pushed his chair back and walked from the room, not seeing the puzzled and crestfallen face of the twins.

He practically ran up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door closed. He sighed in frustration then pulled off his shirt and pulled another one on. He rummaged in his trunk for a few minutes until he pulled out a wooden box.

He found Sirius in the living room piling presents under the tree. "Hey, Sirius," he said, with a slightly gloomy tone. "Here's my presents. It's an expanded space and the opening will size to fit the present." He handed it and turned to go.

"What's the matter, pup?" Sirius asked.

"It's nothing," Harry said as he began to leave the room but Sirius words stopped him cold.

"It's not nothing. Is it the twins? Remus said you acted strange earlier when they were around, like you were pretending they weren't there."

"I-I don't know…" but he trailed off as he turned to see the sympathetic look on Sirius's face. "Yes," he admitted miserably.

"Talk to me pup, maybe I can help you."

"I'll tell you later, I don't want to be miserable today," Harry said. He caught up with everyone over dinner, ignoring the twin's every time they tried to get his attention. Finally, all the plates were clean, all the left overs stored for the next day and everyone was gathered in the living room. "I'll hand out each present separately so that everyone can see what it is and the person's reaction," Harry said to nods of approval.

"Yours are at the front," Sirius said, indicating the tree.

Harry nodded and bent down to pick up the first present. "Terry's," Harry handed it to him and he ripped into it. Harry laughed at his face when he saw the bracelet.

"Why have you given me a bracelet?" Terry squeaked.

"It was originally given to a consort of the Potter family, it allows access to the Potter library," Harry grinned.

"What?"

"I'm giving you unlimited access to the Potter library," Harry said slowly.

"You're... but that's…thank you," Terry stuttered while the rest of the room smiled and laughed.

"Next is… Alicia," he handed the small, wrapped box to her and watched as she unwrapped it and opened the box.

"Oh, Harry," she whispered, blinking back tears. "It's beautiful." She pulled the necklace out and handed it to Angelina, who was sat next to her, to put on. The Pucey crest shone from her chest as she stood and hugged Harry. "Thank you. How did you get it, Adrian told me that it went missing centuries ago?"

"I had to go down to my main vault a few months ago and I found this, along with some other stuff. I thought you would like it," Harry shrugged and pulled out the next gift. "Draco's," he said with a grin. "Another thing I found in my vaults."

"It better not be jewellery," Draco grumbled as he unwrapped the heavy book. "A book?"

"Look at the cover," Harry prompted and Draco turned it over to read the front. A written journal of the Malfoy's, added to by each generation since 1635. Underneath was the Malfoy crest and then the author, Lucifer Malfoy.

"Oh, wow, Harry," Draco gasped. "Thank you," he said and hugged him.

"Just make sure that you share it with your dad when he gets out," Harry said as read the next label. "Pomfreys," he said, handing it to the medi-witch.

She opened the present only to find an envelope. She opened that and read the piece of paper inside. "A pre-paid ticket to New York for next Christmas and a booking receipt for witch's and sorceress's hotel and spa," she smiled at Harry. "Thank you."

"Hey Ron, catch," Harry threw a small orange envelope at the red head.

He ripped it open and shrieked, "Oh Merlin, Harry, I love you mate," he said. "It's an invite for the Gryffindor team to go and practice with the cannons and then play a game," he told everyone excitedly. "Thank you, thank you," he chanted as he hugged the piece of paper.

"Kingsley," Harry said handing it to the head Auror and acting Minister. "Hold on, let me find Dora's, they go together," he rummaged around in the pile for a few minutes muttering about how he should have stuck them together before pulling out a rectangular parcel wrapped in green. "Ha, found it, here you go."

"A key?"/"A rattle?" the both asked as they opened the parcels.

"The key's a portkey that will take you to your knew cottage, with the nursery already decorated and the rattle is a clue," Harry grinned at their flummoxed expressions.

Kingsley recovered first, "Where is the cottage?"

"In between the Burrow and the Rook," he winked at Luna.

"I still don't understand," Tonks said.

"Cousin, what's the tradition in pureblood circles for the gender of the baby?" Draco drawled.

"You give the parents a bracelet for a girl and a rattle for a boy," Tonks said, confused. Then understanding lit up her face. "How do you know it will be a boy?" she demanded.

"I have my secret's, not even our dear headmaster knows," Harry grinned even more. "You see that blank bit of silver where the rest is carved?" he asked. "That's to put the baby's name," he explained when she nodded.

"We haven't decided yet," she whispered. "But I want my dad's name in their somewhere."

Harry closed his eyes and cocked his head to the side, as if listening to something, "Teddy Marcus Shacklebolt," he suggested.

Tonks made a hmm noise as she considered it, "Maybe."

"Anyway, who's next," Ginny said impatiently.

Harry laughed as he pulled out the next present from under the tree, "Penny," he said with a slightly evil grin.

"Oh dear," she murmured as she pealed the paper from the strangely shaped present. "Wha?" she asked. "Why have you given me a pregnancy test and baby care books?" she asked.

"Because," he said in a sing song voice.

"Harry, are insinuating that I'm going to be a father," Percy asked in shock.

"Not insinuating nothing," Harry said in an uncanny impression of Peeves.

"Harry," Poppy sighed. "I knew you were hanging out with Peeves too much," she said shaking her head.

"Poppy, they weren't meant to know that," he whined.

"Mrs Clearwater, I'd just humour him," McGonagall advised.

Pouting, Harry reached for the next present. He cheered up when he read the name, "Angelina," he chirped.

"A wedding planner," she laughed, Oliver had proposed on Christmas morning.

"How did you know, I didn't tell anyone," Oliver squeaked. Harry only smirked. "You know what, I don't want to know," he decided.

"Severus next," Harry said, handing the heavy box over. He watched in glee as the potions master pulled out the first of the books.

"This… this was written by… how did you…Rowena Ravenclaw's potions journal," he stuttered.

"Not only Rowena's," Harry bounced with excitement as Severus pulled the other three books out.

"Helga Hufflepuff," he read, getting paler and paler in excitement, "Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor. How?"

"Helena told me how to get into the Founders potions labs, said that I might find a use for the potions in there. I saw these books' and knew that you would die for them," he pouted again, "She wouldn't tell me where their chambers were though," he sulked. Everyone chuckled at his childlike attitude.

"Anyway, who's next," he dived back into the pile, "Blaise. Be careful with it, it's quite old from what I could tell."

Blaise gingerly unwrapped the present and gasped. A beautiful silver jewellery box shined in the light. The Zabini crest was engraved in gold, along with the family motto. Blaise opened it and pulled out a small ring, set with a ruby. "These are…"

"Your great grandmothers," Harry said softly. "My grandfather won them in a duel from your grandfather. I thought that you would want them." He turned away, picking up the next present. He didn't even look at the name tag, just handed it to Seamus.

"Well, it's a broom, that much I can tell," Seamus commented, looking at the shape. "There's something else in there with it but it's a broom." He ripped into the paper and laughed. "A knew chess set and a Firebolt."

"Not just any Firebolt, look at the handle," Ginny said as she spotted the writing. Seamus looked at the same time as Ginny said, "It belonged to Aiden Lynch!"

"Blimey, how did you get that?" Dean asked.

"Lynch got the new Sparrow Hawk broom, put the Firebolt up for bids," Harry shrugged as he picked up the next present. "I entered for a dare and won with a measly 3000 galleons and decided to give it to Seamus who I know is never going to ride it and instead put it in a glass case." Seamus nodded. "Anyway, this is for Susan."

"Thank you Harry," she murmured when she saw the beautiful engraved picture frame with a photo of her family inside.

"Ginny's," Harry said. "You can't give it back I'm afraid but I did have permission from Bill to do this," Bill grumbled but nodded.

"A vault key? The bracelet I get and love but why a vault key," Ginny asked.

"By pureblood laws when a female marries she has a dowry, this is yours," he grinned before throwing the next present, an envelope, at Oliver.

"No," he said firmly when he looked inside. "You are not paying for the honeymoon, I refuse-"

"Oliver, shut up and except it," Harry snapped, moving to hand a purple wrapped present to Pansy. Oliver look to shocked to argue, actually everyone did.

Pansy snapped out of it when she looked at the beautifully designed vase. It was a mix of pink's, purple's, blues and greens with hints of yellow and red. You could just make out engravings of runes along the rim and bottom with another running around the middle inside.

"Unbreakable," Hermione said from where she sat next to Pansy reading the runes. "Clean, fresh, everlasting, there's a lot of work gone into this."

"I did the runes and there from hours of practising with the vase maker, I had the vase custom made. If there was such thing as an aura I think this is what yours would look like. Pink and purple because your true to yourself and the female you are, blue and green for your intelligence and cunning with hints of yellow and red for your bravery and loyalty," Harry said, slightly red in the face.

"It's lovely, thank you Harry, I will treasure this," Pansy said.

"I hope so," Harry murmured sadly before brightening as he looked at the name on the next present. He hopped over to Dumbledore and handed it to him. Everyone laughed as they saw the socks.

"Thank you Harry," Dumbledore chuckled. "But I have a feeling these are more than just socks."

"Your right," Harry said. "These socks have fifty different designs programed in them and are charmed to clean themselves every day. They also act as a portkey to St Mungo's with the activation word being Dobby." Everyone laughed again as Dumbledore immediately swapped his socks to the new ones.

"Charlie's," Harry grinned. They all looked slightly apprehensive at the box as it had breathing holes, indicating that it was alive. "I think you will like this, considering I heard you moaning to Luke about missing the dragons." He heard a gasp from Hermione.

"Harry, you didn't get him a-"

"Open it," Harry encouraged, ignoring his best friend.

Charlie tentatively raised the lid a gasped. "Harry, I can't, it's against the law-"

"You lot have no faith in me," Harry grumbled. "It's not actually a dragon," he explained. "Do you remember those miniatures that were given out in the second task, well, I kept it. I enlarged it and had it checked over, it should survive for another ten years. I thought you could have it; I didn't really want nor need it anymore."

"Wow," Charlie breather as he lifted it out with both hands. It looked at him and breathed fire straight into his face. Everyone gasped and Luke went to put the flame out only for Charlie to laugh. "It's safety fire," he said as the dragon gave up roasting him and curled up in his lap.

"He doesn't do much more than that, he eats, sleeps, breaths fire and that's about it," Harry said.

"Thank you Harry," Charlie said happily.

"Next is Hermione," Harry handed a small velvet box to her.

"It's lovely, Harry," Hermione said as she studied the simple necklace. It was shaped like three hearts with different gems, each of the trio's birthstones, all connected in the centre. What Hermione didn't know was that it had a small compulsion charm so that after a certain time revising she would want a break.

"It's meant to symbolise us," he muttered blushing.

"Then it's perfect," she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm gay, Ron, remember," he said as Ron glared at him. He moved back to the tree and pulled out a yellow present. "Hmm, Justin," he handed it to the boy.

He felt it for a few seconds, "Fells like fabric," Justin said as he ripped into it. "Quidditch robes? Wait, these are…"

"Montrose Magpies Quidditch robes, signed, I might add," Harry said smugly.

"How did you get it?" Theo asked, interested.

"As much as it pains me, Cho Chang became the third set Seeker," he grimaced.

"You didn't?" laughed Ginny.

"I did," he grumbled. "You should be very thankful for that," he pointed to the robes that Justin was now holding against his body.

"What was the price?" Ron grinned. Harry mumbled something, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."

"I said she asked me to take her on another date," Harry grumbled.

"Dear god, you went through that for me. You must really like me," Justin said as he folded the robes and placed them at his feet. "So, go on then, how bad was it?"

"Don't know, haven't been on it yet. I told her she would have to wait until the summer holidays as I was too busy with exams," he grinned.

"Harry, you can't make promises that you won't keep," Hermione admonished. Harry only rolled his eyes and handed the next present to Percy.

It was a photo album filled with photos of his parents growing up and at Hogwarts. Percy flicked through them idly. "Thank you, Harry, but why give them to me, I was horrid to them, I don't deserve this," Percy said, nearly crying.

"And that's why I gave it to you, you regret what happened and that you never got to say goodbye," Harry said softly. "You regret leaving your family for you career and that shows me that you care. That shows me that you miss them the most, that's why I gave that to you." Percy nodded, crying softly and hugging the album to his chest. Charlie and Bill stood, pulling their brother into a hug.

"Uh-hm," Harry said, gathering everyone's attention. "I think we should take a break, I seem to have forgotten a few presents. Could someone help me?"

"I need to return to Hogwarts to check and see if Miss Jenkins had any problems and to check on a patent, I will help you," Poppy said, standing. Harry nodded and followed her through the floo. Poppy quickly checked Harry over and gave him his daily potions before following Harry to the Gryffindor dorms to help him carry the few presents he forgot to pack. All in all, they were gone an hour.

"What took so long?" Sirius asked. "It's nearly six o'clock, you've been gone an hour."

"Poppy had to look after a patent," Harry shrugged as he put the three presents he had forgotten under the tree. "I guess your impatient, so I'll get straight to it and give you yours Sirius." He handed the two parcels to Sirius.

"How come he gets two presents?" Ginny grumbled but shut up when she saw the evil smirk on Harry's face.

"Hey!" Sirius shout when he ripped into the first one and about five dog toys fell to the ground. "I barley turn into a dog anymore," he grouched, opening the other one, only to turn bright red and shove it back in the wrapping.

"What was it?" Remus asked, trying to see.

"Nothing," he squeaked, pulling it away and glaring at Harry who only smirked harder.

"Next is… George, let me find Fred's so I can give them together," Harry said, his smirk falling. He knelt down and rummaged under the tree until he threw two parcels at the red heads.

George went first, opening his blue present to find a box with a vault key, "Huh?"

"I'm upping my investment," Harry said shortly from where he was still digging around under the tree and making a small pile behind him. The rest of the room exchanged looks, confused as to why Harry was so mad at the twins. "I found Fred's in my vault, I guess it was a backup." Harry pulled the last of his presents out from under the tree just as Fred pulled an invisibility cloak from its wrapping's. It wasn't the plain boring cloak it appeared to be, however, underneath a glamour that only those who knew he was dying could see, was the family heirloom, Harry's cloak. There was a shocked gasp from everyone, those who couldn't see beneath the glamour at him having given them an invisibility cloak and those that could that he was giving away the only thing of his father he had left. "Anyway, the next present is for Neville," he said, not even giving the twins time to comment on their presents.

"An amulet?" Neville asked.

Harry cleared his throat. "I found two of these in a glass case in my vault. The label said that the wearer could use them to talk to those rendered comatose," there was a gasp. "There is a catch, however. They can only be used seven times each. According to one of my ancestor's diaries, seven were made," he shivered slightly at the reminder of the Horcruxses, "To last for seven attempts. It doesn't say why or where the other five went, that's all I know. But I do know that I would give anything to talk to my parents again and that you would to."

"Thank you, Harry," Neville murmured as Luna curled up practically in his lap. Everyone else had a few tears in their eyes.

"Anyway, the next present is far happier," Harry said. "It's Luna's and I just know it's going to piss Hermione off," he said, handing a box with breathing holes. "I spent ages asking around for this," he grinned.

"Ohh," Luna said as she opened the book. "A Crumple-Horned Snorkack," she said, pulling it out. It looked like a miniature lion with a horn on its head and wings on its back.

"But-that's-it shouldn't-impossible," Hermione stuttered while the rest of the room laughed slightly.

"Aren't you cute, yes you are, I'm going to call you sandy cause that's what colour you are," Luna cooed at the little animal. It yawned in her face and curled up in her lap, imitating the dragon Charlie had received earlier. Everyone chuckled at Luna's cooing, even as Harry reached down into the pile at his feet.

He sighed, "Why am I picking the sad ones." He handed it to a worried looking Theo.

"A visitation right to see my father over the summer holidays," he croaked as he read it. "And a wand holster?"

"You said you needed a new one," Harry said. "I know there both a bit impersonal but you didn't really drop any hints so… I got you those. The wand hoster can shield against everything bar the unforgivables."

"It's alright, everyone says I'm hard to shop for," Theo reassured him.

"The next presents for Professor Flitwick," Ginny said, making them all jump.

"Hey, that's my job," Harry said, shooing her away from the pile. She handed him the present in her hand and pretended to sulk to her seat in front of Hermione. "Here you are sir," Flitwick took the parcel and banished the light blue paper.

"Shoe's?" he asked.

"I charmed them so that they float up to a metre off the ground and they will resize to fit your feet as I wasn't sure of you size," Harry explained.

"Brilliant, let's see if they work," the charms professor squeaked excitedly. He slipped on the shoes and went to step onto the floor only to float above it. "Oh well done, the charms work perfectly." He tried to sit back down but found that he couldn't float low enough to do so. "I think these will take practice," he squeaked as a laughing Bill helped him take the shoes off.

"Sorry, I should correct that," Harry said, moving to take his wand from behind his ear.

"Nonsense, I just have to practise," Flitwick waved him away.

"If you say so," Harry muttered, picking up the next present, a gold one. "Denis."

"You got me a present," Denis squeaked.

"It's really for both you and Colin," Harry said as he watched Denis rip into it. He gasped when he saw the photo and inscription on the front of a photo album. To Colin's life and the hope that even in death he has a camera! The photo was of a four-year-old Colin taking a picture of one-year-old Denis with their dads help. "It's all the photos I could find of you and Colin and most of the picture he took at Hogwarts," Harry explained as he watched the youngest Creevey flick through the book, tears in his eyes.

"Most?" he asked, looking up.

"Some of the pictures he took were indecent," Harry grumbled.

"Like what?" Ginny asked, grinning evilly.

Harry cleared his throat and ignored her, "The next one's for Luke," he handed the eighteen-year-old the purple parcel.

"Oh wow," Luke exclaimed when he saw the charms book. "You shouldn't have Harry; I mean this was written by Lucia Potter, it must have cost a fortune." Harry raised an eyebrow at him, "Oh, you got it from your vault."

"Yep, but I found the original, I had to pay a bit to get it reprinted," Harry said, smiling at his infusiasum. "Anyway, next is Deans. And you can't say no," he said, slightly smug.

Dean nervously opened the red envelope. Inside was a bank vault key and a contract with a small bottle cap taped to it. He sent Harry a questioning look.

"It's my investment," he explained. "Inside the vault is the same amount I gave the twins to get started in their joke shop and the contract is the deeds to a small house with a studio for you to do your paintings."

"Core, thanks mate," Dean said. "I suppose this is the portkey to get to get to the house."

Harry nodded and went pick up the next present in the now very small pile. "Padma," he handed a blue envelope to her and picked up a gold one and gave it to Lavender. "They go together, kinda."

"Internship with healer James," Padma squealed, jumping up and hugging Harry.

"Oh my merlin," Lavender squealed, "An internship with Madam Malkin, thank you." She mimicked Padma and hugged Harry.

"Now the conditions are that you have to both get exceeds expectations in you subjects and at least one outstanding," Harry said sternly. "Otherwise neither will take you, okay?"

"Easy,"

"I'll do it,"

"Good," Harry said. He handed the next present to Bill.

"A knife," Bill murmured. "A special knife, that can cut through anything and can unlock any door," he said reading the runes. "This must have been expensive," he commented. Harry only shrugged, staring sadly at the knife. Under the glamour that only he could see through was the Christmas gift from Sirius in his fourth year. He had hesitated to give it away but knew Bill would put it to good use at work. "Thanks Harry."

Harry shrugged and handed the next present to Remus, a small wooden box. "You need to cancel the shrinking spell," he said. Remus did and jumped when it enlarged.

"A trunk," Remus stated.

"A trunk with two rooms," Harry said. "One's for when you turn into a wolf, it's got real plants and a few rabbits that you can hunt. It's sound proofed and completely safe."

"Brilliant," Remus breathed. "And the second room."

"Well, that's really for both you and Sirius, go on, take a look," Harry said. Remus thought about for a few seconds before exchanging a look with Sirius. He nodded and they both opened the trunk and stepped in.

"The second room is full of pictures of both my parents growing up, them at school and all the pictures of me I could find. I call it the Marauders Memory room," Harry explained softly, listening to the exclamations from inside the trunk. The two men spent ten minutes in there before both resurfaced, puffy eyes.

"Thank you, Harry," they both murmured. He hugged them both before they sat down.

"Now, then, who's next," Harry murmured. "Madam McGonagall."

"Harry," she murmured when she saw the tartan kilt with her family crest. She laughed when she found the catnip he had wrapped inside.

"Lee's next, another investment on my behalf," Harry said handing a brown envelope over. "It's a vault filled with 5000 galleons or the key to it," Harry told him.

"Harry, you shouldn't-"

"Shut up, I said it was an investment, it so you can start that radio station," Harry said, waking him lightly over the head.

"Oh, ok, thanks," Lee muttered, rubbing the back of his head where Harry had hit him.

"Opps," Harry said, reading the label of the next presents. "Kingsley, I need a favour. These are for Lucius, he was complaining he was bored and so I got him some children's books, muggle and magical, to keep himself entertained. Can you make sure he gets these, please?"

Draco was laughing slightly as Kingsley spoke, "They'll have to go through all the checks but yes, I can get them to him."

"Thanks, this present is for Hannah," he shifted nervously, sharing a glance with Amelia. "This is really from both me and Amelia but I had to pull some strings to get it done," he said nervously.

"Adoption papers," Hannah breathed. "Who?"

"Me," Amelia said softly. "I know that you hate it at your aunt's, that she doesn't understand what you are. You spend almost all of your time with me and Susan. You might as well be part of the family."

"I-Why is it Harry's present and not yours," Hannah asked.

"Because they wouldn't grant it to Amelia," Harry said angrily. "They said that you were with blood family and that you would be fine, just as they were with my family and any other Muggleborn witch or wizard, not worthy of their time. I found out through… well, that doesn't matter but I found out and made it look like I was going to adopt you into the Potter family, make my parents your parents. They gave me a blank form and filled in all but your name and Amelia's."

"How did you persuade the old bat?" Susan asked curiously.

"I didn't," he said slyly. "Remus went to her acting as if he was one of the teachers at the school and that he had to file a change of information in case anything should happen. She fell hock, line and sinker."

"I still can't believe you talk me into that, although I do agree with what I did," Remus shook his head.

"Thank you," Hannah said, still clutching the papers. "Can I have some time to think about this?" Both Amelia and Harry nodded.

"After that drama, I have two presents left to give, Katy's and Amelia's herself," he said, handing a silver envelope to Katy and a strange shapes parcel to Amelia.

"You open yours first, Katy," Amelia said.

"You can't say no," Harry reminded her as she opened the envelope and tipped a small stack of folded papers onto the desk. She quickly read the first one over.

"The deeds to a flat in London," Katy exclaimed. She saw Harry's determined look and caved. "Fine, thank you. I will pay you back though." Harry only smiled and turned to Amelia.

"You need to enlarge them later, when you want to fit them," he told her. She unwrapped the strange shape and looked puzzled at the wooden frames.

"Door frames?"

"I had them made," Harry explained. "When enlarged and fitted they have wards. Anyone who steps through with bad intentions, no matter if it's directed at you or in general, it will trigger a small alarm that that makes it light up. Only you and anyone else you program into it can see the light. Flashes grey the intentions are general, flashes black they are directed at you. There's one for your office and one for you front door." Amelia nodded and thanked him.

Harry noticed that a few of his friends were starting to drop off to sleep and checked the clock to find that it was nearly half ten. "I think we should head to bed. I'll open my presents tomorrow." Everyone agreed and Harry quickly made his way to the bedroom he would be sharing with Ron and, to his dismay when Remus had told him, the twins. He didn't stop to change his cloths only threw them off then settled under the sheets. He waited for perhaps fifteen minutes before the door opened and he heard two sets of footsteps entre. Harry evened his breathing, even as his chest tightened.

He heard a sigh. "He's already asleep," Fred sounded disappointed.

"We'll talk to him tomorrow; find out why he's been avoiding us. I thought it was the perfect chance, with Ron choosing to join the boys sleep over in the living room. Never mind." They went about getting ready for bed and Harry heard them settle into the same bed.

They fell asleep not long after but Harry was awake for a long while, crying into his pillow. He eventually fell asleep, eyes red and puffy, and dreamed of when life was simpler and what could have been.