Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Slightly shorter chapter as I wanted it to just be Harry and Severus having their Christmas together before heading to the Weasley's. =)

Harry woke up the next morning and stretched before snuggling back down into his warm comforter. Suddenly his eyes popped open as he realized it was Christmas morning! He jumped up and looked outside his window. It had stopped snowing and now everything was beautifully covered in a blanket of white snow. It looked like a Christmas card outside. He wondered if he could get his dad to actually play in the snow with him later. He checked to see if Hedwig had returned from delivering the gift he had sent to Hermione yet. Since he was seeing Ron later that day, he could deliver that one personally. His dad had also bought a gift certificate for The Three Broomsticks for the whole Weasley family as a gift.

Wondering if he could go downstairs yet he peered out his doorway and quietly went down half the staircase where he could see the tree. It really was a magnificent tree and was still lit up, full of the wonderful ornaments. Under the tree lay scattering, brightly colored packages with big bows and both stockings hung on the fireplace were full. Harry had put his gifts for his dad under the tree before going to bed last night as well as filling his dads stocking with the candy he had asked the twins to buy for him. Harry grinned to himself. This was going to be even better than last year. He remembered hearing Dudley lumber down the stairs to open his gifts while Harry had remained in his cupboard, only able to listen to the laughter and unwrapping of presents.

"I thought I heard a little mouse." Severus came up behind Harry.

"Merry Christmas Dad!" Harry hugged him.

"Merry Christmas Harry." Severus said with a slight twinkle in his dark eyes. He had been waiting for his son to get up, almost as excited as his child for Christmas morning. "Grab your dressing gown and slippers and then meet me downstairs okay?"

Harry nodded not having realized he had forgotten his robe. He quickly went and put on his dark green robe and slippers and hurried downstairs. His dad snapped a photo of him and laughed when Harry blinked his eyes in surprise. "We have to document our first Christmas in a long time do we not? I believe we can add to the photo album from your mother." Severus said knowing his wife would have tried to take pictures of every moment. He charmed the camera to float on its own and randomly take pictures of them while they opened their gifts.

"Do you want breakfast first or presents first?" Severus asked knowing the answer already.

"Well, presents. Unless you're hungry now, I don't mind eating first." Harry said hastily, not wanting to sound childish or selfish.

"Presents first." Severus said. There was a tapping on the window and he opened it to let Hedwig in. She dropped several parcels under the tree.

"Hedwig!" Harry said happily, petting his snowy owl. "I left treats for you upstairs." He told her. She hooted in approval and flew up the stairs.

"Well, it appears we are ready to start." Severus settled himself into a reclining chair ready to enjoy watching his son open his gifts.

Harry went and grabbed the stockings, handing his dad his first. "You remembered my favorite sweets! Very thoughtful of you Harry." Severus said as he peered into his stocking.

Harry took a look in his and saw taffy, ice mice, and chocoballs. He also pulled out a deck of cards that had famous Quidditch's player on them and a spinner ball that when you spun it, it lit up like a firecracker and exploded into several different colors. "Brilliant, thanks Dad!"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "How do you know it is from me? Father Christmas may have left that for you."

"Right." Harry rolled his eyes good naturedly and then settled to open his first gift. "These presents are the ones Hedwig brought. They're from Hermione, Hagrid and Professor Dumbledore! Look, the Headmaster sent you one too!" He handed his dad a brightly colored present.

Severus sighed. "Yes he usually does. Last year he gave me red and gold socks. I was not amused." He heard his son laugh as he opened this year's gift. Red and gold slippers with a lions face on each of them. "Hilarious Albus." He muttered.

Harry couldn't stop laughing. Only Dumbledore could get away with that without risking getting hexed! His dad pulled a book out of the same box and a pleased look went over his face. "This is more like it. Now I don't regret us sending him a gift certificate to Honeydukes so he can stock up on lemon drops."

Harry peered at the book noting it was a book on new potion theories. His dad tossed the slippers at Harry. "Here you go."

Harry snickered as he opened Hermione's and Hagrid's gifts while his dad looked through his new book. Hagrid had sent a tin of treacle fudge and Hermione had given him a very impressive eagle-feather quill. Harry opened Dumbledore's gift and his smile widened. It was green and silver slippers with a snake on each of them. He tossed them at his dad. "Here you go."

Severus looked up in surprise and then glanced at the slippers. "That old man thinks he is very amusing." He commented, keeping the slippers by him. He admired the quill Harry had received. "That is very nice. It will be excellent to use for your homework."

Harry shook his head as he continued opening his gifts. "Wow, a practice snitch! Thank you!" He was a little surprised as practice snitches helped you improve your seeking skills. His Dad must really not mind if he did well against the Slytherin team. His dad had also had bought him a new watch that had little snitches in the place of numbers, a model of an owl that looked like Hedwig that actually flew, several new items of clothes, age appropriate wizard novels, and a thick warm quilt done in brilliant maroon with a realistic looking lion stitched into it. Harry was overwhelmed; he had never gotten so much before. He looked up at his dad who was watching him with a look of satisfaction on his face. "It's so much. Thank you." Harry said sincerely.

Severus shook his head. "It is my joy to give to you Harry. Though you are very welcome."

Harry handed his dad his gifts for him. Severus looked pleased as he opened the scarf. "This is very nice Harry. Thank you." Besides being green and black, there was a large silver S stitched in it. He opened the next present and his eyes widened a bit. "This is wonderful Harry! I needed a new potions journal. Thank you son!"

"You're welcome." Harry said, relieved his dad appeared to generally like his gifts.

With a wave of his wand Severus cleared the room of crumpled wrapping paper. "I'm going to start on breakfast. Go ahead and look through your new things, it won't take me long."

Harry sat on the floor against the sofa and looked through his new novels as they looked interesting. It was a series following a young auror and all the adventure he had with the cases he went on. When his dad called him he was already several chapters in the first book.

Severus had done a full English breakfast and they ate until they were stuffed. "Do you want to play in the snow with me?" Harry asked hopefully.

Severus paused as he cleared away their dishes. "Me? Play in the snow? You mean leave our nice warm cottage and go out where it is cold and wet and throw frozen water around?"

"Yup." Harry said brightly.

Severus pretended to give a long suffering sigh. "I suppose I should test out my new scarf. Very well. Go put on warm clothes and socks and we will go outside."

Harry grinned and scurried out of the kitchen. Severus smiled as he pulled the camera that had been following them all morning and cast a weather protection charm on it so it could follow them outside. Although if anyone at school saw pictures of him playing in the snow he would never live it down. Oh well. The things parents did for their children.

They spent an hour throwing snowballs at each other and building a snowman that included glasses and a long beard that Severus had named Albus DumbleSnow. Harry had laughed hysterically at that and made sure that the camera took a picture of it. Harry knew the Headmaster would get a kick out of it. When they went inside they changed into dry clothes and had a light lunch as they knew Mrs. Weasley would have a feast waiting for dinner.

"This has been a perfect Christmas." Harry said as he lounged on the sofa, tired from playing outside. Severus was in his reclining chair and they both were sipping hot apple cider.

"That it has. Just as perfect as your very first Christmas." Severus smiled in memory. "You weren't even five months old yet so of course you had no clue it was Christmas but Lily was so excited for you to see your presents."

"Really?" Harry asked interestedly.

Severus nodded and began to tell him about the only Christmas the three of them had shared together.

"Severus?" Lily whispered to her still sleeping husband. She huffed in annoyance and gave him a slight push. "Sev?" She narrowed her green eyes and gave him a mighty shove that almost made him fall off the bed.

"What the-"Severus was startled awake and looked around the room. His gaze settled on his wife who was looking at him with an innocent look.

"Oh, you're up too?" Lily asked with a bright smile. "Wonderful! I bet Harry is ready to open his Christmas presents!"

Severus looked at her suspiciously. "Did you wake me up on purpose?" He asked in a mock growl.

"It's Christmas morning Sev. Harry's first Christmas!" Lily looked as excited as a five year old child.

Severus chuckled and settled back down to sleep. "He is not even five months yet Lily." He closed his eyes and a moment later a pillow thumped over his face. He grabbed Lily and playfully flung her on her back and kissed her. "All right. You win."

Lily laughed and kissed him back. "Don't I always?" She teased as she got up to get their son.

Severus was downstairs making coffee and getting a juice cup ready when Lily came into the living room with Harry, who was blinking his eyes sleepily. His eyes widened when he saw the tree and the presents lying underneath. He began babbling nonsense words. Lily looked smug. "See? He is aware."

Severus rolled his eyes yet had a smile as they sat down on the floor next to their son who was propped up with pillows, though he was able to sit up on his own for short periods of time. "Ready Harry Bear?" Lily picked up the first present and helped her son open it. "Blocks!" She told her son, handing him one and showing him how to use them to build. She built a tower and Harry looked at it curiously and then stuck out his little fist knocking them all down. "Baa!" He said happily. Severus couldn't help laughing along with his wife.

Severus and Lily helped Harry open several more presents that were toys, board books with bright pictures in them, a stuffed lion and snake that spoke Harry's name. Harry squealed when they did and clapped his hands together.

Severus got up and pulled out the last gift from behind the tree which was a walking ring. They put Harry in and he loved it, playing with the toys and bouncing up and down. As Harry played, they exchanged their gifts to each other. Lily had gotten her husband rare potion ingredients that she had been able to track down as well as several new potion bottles and vials. Severus had given her a necklace with her birthstone and a silk shawl that was the same color as her eyes. "I love them. Thank you Sev." Lily said softly as she looked into his dark eyes. His eyes softened warmly as he kissed her nose. "Thank you Lily. You and Harry are the best gift I could have ever received." He responded.

Lily snuggled into Severus as they settled into the sofa to watch their son. "Isn't this wonderful? What could be better than Christmas in our cottage watching our son play with his toys?"

Severus agreed and looked forward to many more holidays with his wife and son.

"Unfortunately, that was our first and last Christmas with the three of us together." Severus said quietly as he finished telling Harry the story. Harry was leaning against him, having gotten up to sit with him in his recliner as he told the story. He was half asleep and clearly tired from getting up early and playing in the snow. "But now you and I have the start of many more Christmas's together." Severus continued as he leaned his head back and decided to take a little nap as well. "Many, many more."

TBC: