Note: This chapter will make absolutely no sense at all if you don't go back and read chapter five again, which has been extended and severely edited.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. (: Much love goes out to all of you, as always!

Ahh, so... insert pathetic excuses as to why I haven't updated. Very, very sorry!

Disclaimer: I, regrettably, do not own Harry Potter. Any bits of dialogue taken from the books are not owned by me.

Warning: Contains SLASH. Male/male relationships! You have been warned.

:::

Harry groaned in annoyance when his mother woke him, talking about Diagon Alley and shopping. Oh, right, Christmas presents. Of course. He begrudgingly got out of bed and got dressed, eventually making it down to the kitchen where his mother had breakfast already laid out on the table. He took a large portion of the food and started shoving it in his mouth, not really paying attention to what he was consuming. When he was about half way finished, he heard the kitchen door swing open. He looked up smiling, expecting to see his mother. His smile faltered a little when he saw it wasn't his mother, but his father. James saw him, and walked over to the table, sitting down across from him.

"Harry?"

Harry looked up.

"Err- I'm sorry about the fuss over your house and everything. It's just, umm, not what I was expecting. I just wanted you to know that I have no problem with it and still love you very much." He said all of this in a rush, but Harry heard every word. He smiled.

"Thanks, dad."

*

Harry Potter was angry.

Did his parents not understand that he was no longer friends with Ron? Apparently not, as they were forcing (yes, forcing!) him to attend the annual Weasley Christmas Eve dinner. Usually, he would've been very excited to go; Mrs. Weasley was an amazing cook, but not this year. He would give up delicious food to not be required to spend a couple of hours in the company of Gryffindors.

Not to mention the fact that they had made him get a Christmas present for the red-head and Longbottom, which cut his budget down for the presents for his actual friends. In the end, he had gotten the two Gryffindors the least expensive things his parents had let him buy for them- a small bag of chocolate. He had intentionally gotten Neville one with walnuts, and Ron a dark chocolate bag, because he knew they didn't like those kinds. He had gotten Pansy a book titled 1001 Useful Charms and a slim, modest journal, Blaise a new portable wizard's chess set, Theo a giant tome with a title in Latin that he couldn't read, and Draco both a fancy Potions kit and a small stuffed snake, with a card reading, "I know you won't be able to survive without someone sleeping in your bed with you. Merry Christmas, Harry." Harry could visualize the look of pure horror that would be on Draco's face when he opened that.

He had ended up with a little extra money, and eventually, after much consideration, decided to buy Fred and George something. They were like older brothers to him. He had decided upon a spread of Zonko's products, and had even bought Percy a new quill and color-changing ink. That was yesterday. Today, however, was Christmas Eve, and his mood had seen better days.

"Harry, are you ready?" his mother asked him, breaking him out of his thoughts. She walked into the room, gathering the last few things they were bringing.

"Yes," he told her, standing up and smoothing a hand over his winter cloak, attempting to flatten it out a little. He grabbed the packages he was bringing and stepped over to the fireplace. He threw a handful of the green Floo powder into the fire and stepped in. He shouted "The Burrow!" and felt the familiar, albeit unpleasant, sensation, finally coming to a halt.

Harry stepped out of the fireplace and looked around, unable to suppress the smile on his face at the memories this house contained for him. He inhaled, and his mouth watered at the smell of Mrs. Weasley's cooking. He heard footsteps racing down the stairs, and frowned when he heard the last Weasley he wanted to see yell to his mother, "Mum! I think Nev's here!" Said Weasley git then ran into the living room, where Harry was brushing the soot off of his cloak. The red-head's face fell when he saw that it was not Neville, but Harry.

"Oh," he said, his face now set in a scowl, "It's just you."

Harry nodded once, his expression blank. They stood in a tense, uncomfortable silence until Harry's parents came whooshing out of the Floo, all smiles and greetings to the Gryffindor boy. Ron smiled back at them, telling them his parents were in the kitchen. A moment later and they had move on through the doorway and the silence fell again. Harry rolled his eyes and moved toward the doorway.

"If you've got nothing to say, Weasley, the I'm going to find better company."

Ron's scowl deepened, but he stomped through the doorway anyway, letting Harry through. Harry walked into the hallway, and decided to say hello to Fred and George. He stepped up the stairs, coming to a halt outside the twin's door. He knocked cautiously, listening for any sounds. Maybe they're off somewhere else, he thought when there was no response for several moments. He was just about to go and try to find him in the house when the door swung open to reveal both twins grinning at him, wearing identical outfits of all black. Harry's eyebrows rose, a habit he had picked up from his Slytherin friends (all of them seems to do it, maybe it was some kind of house trait?), and was about to ask what they were wearing that for when each twin grabbed one of his arms and yanked him inside their room, shutting the door behind him.

"What the-?" Harry started, but a hand was clamped down over his mouth, preventing him from making any noise other that unintelligible grunts.

"Harry," one of the twins, Harry thought it was George, but one could never be one hundred percent sure, "how nice it is to see you."

Harry grunted.

"I suppose you're wondering about our current attire, yes?" The other twin asked. Harry nodded.

"We were actually on our way-"

"-to kidnap you."

Harry's brow furrowed. Kidnap?

Fred (maybe) grinned at him. "We figured you would have begged to stay home."

"But we just couldn't have our favorite Slytherin not here, now could we?"

"And this whole thing will be so much easier now."

Harry tried to ask them what "this whole thing" was, but the hand was still over his mouth. He stuck his tongue out and licked the palm, causing whoever's hand it was to fall away. Both twins were now laughing hysterically, and Harry was starting to get slightly annoyed.

"Oi!" he practically shouted. "What are you two going on about, then?"

"Why our dear Slytherin-"

"-this year's dinner would be as boring-"

"-dull-"

"-mundane-"

"-and just overall normal if we hadn't planned something."

"So... what exactly is this plan of yours?" Harry asked, genuinely curious. If Fred and George had come up with it, it was no doubt brilliant.

One of the twins pulled out a bottle of something that looked suspiciously like alcohol. Harry eyed it warily. "What is that for?"

"The hot chocolate-"

"-gives it some more flavor."

Harry shook his head. "You are not getting me drunk."

"Of course we aren't. It the parents-"

"-we're getting drunk. Let's see what they-"

"-really think about you being in Slytherin, yeah?"

"Alright. I still don't see how this involves me."

"We need you-"

"-to distract the parents for us."

Harry shrugged. "I should be able to do that."

Fred and George grinned at him, and looked ready to go head forth with their plan when Harry stopped them. "Hey, this seems pretty mediocre compared to what you guys usually do."

They looked at him. "Oh, how you underestimate us, Harry." They said at the same time. Harry frowned, but followed them out of the door anyway.

When Harry and the twins rounded the corner of the stairs, the house was swarming with people. Usually it was only the Potters, the Longbottoms, the Weasleys, Sirius and Remus. This year it looked as though it had expanded tremendously Harry saw the Lovegoods, Lee Jordan, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, an upper year prefect that he sort of recognized, and, to his horror, Professor McGonagall. He sighed. It looked as though he was the only Slytherin in the entire house, which was saying a lot. Fred nudged him with his arm, giving him a look that said, "distraction?" Harry nodded, looking much more confident than he felt. If it had only been the usual parents his task would have been easy, but this... this was something else entirely. There was no way he could possibly distract everybody at once. Luckily, his mother unknowingly saved him by choosing that moment to stand up and tap on her glass lightly.

"Attention! Attention, everyone! James and I have an announcement to make."

Dread settled in Harry's stomach, and he immediately forgot his relief. Are they having a baby? Am I going to be a brother? He asked himself silently, mentally panicking. He didn't want a sibling. He was fine with Fred and George. He had told his parents that a few years ago when they asked him about it. They nodded and seemed to have expected that, and been fine with it, but apparently they had decided to have another anyways. Why didn't they tell me?

"We're moving next summer."

Harry sighed in relief as he let that sink in, which was hard to do when Mrs. Weasley was screaming in glee while at the same time chastising them about making her think Lily was pregnant again.

Dinner was a fairly awkward affair, as he was squished in between Seamus Finnegan and Neville Longbottom, but the food was delicious anyway, and dessert was heavenly.

As the night went on, the adults got steadily drunker and drunker, and the ones too young to drink got more and more entertained because of it. Once they were well on their was to being completely smashed, one of them shooed the kids out, shutting and locking the doors behind them. The children were all very put out by this, at least until they had realized that whoever had kicked them out hadn't silenced the door and they could hear the adults perfectly. They all crowded around the large doors, listening to the conversation going on inside.

"Whoo!" Someone who sounded disturbingly like McGonagall shouted suddenly.

"Minnie, Minnie, Minnie, sit down, please!" Minnie? Harry thought, horrified. I have just been scarred for life. He turned to Fred and George, still not really getting what he'd 'underestimated' about this. He then heard someone who sounded like Neville's grandmother say his name, and he listened harder.

"James, Lily, so, Harry's in Slytherin, eh? How'd that happen?"

Most of the heads in the hallway turned to him, making his face flush. He heard his father answer, "No idea, no idea at all. It was a shock! Not a very pleasant one, either, if you know what I mean."

He could hear the slight slur of his father's voice that mean he was very much drunk.

"Yes, I was very proud when Neville became a Gryffindor! So brave, that boy! A bit useless now and then, but still... I don't know what I would have done if he was in Slytherin! You-Know-Who's old house, almost all of the Death Eaters... bad lot, them Slytherins." Harry glanced at Neville, and smirked to himself when he saw that the boy's face was practically on fire.

"Now, let's not get carried away, here," his mother's voice spoke up. "I was no happier that anyone here when he got sorted there, but that doesn't mean that he will be evil! He's a sweet boy, very sweet."

"Ohoho, of course not! Didn't mean to imply... but, friends with a Malfoy, I hear!"

"Yes, yes." James spoke again, "Very disappointed with that. I still haven't gotten over the whole thing. I'm quite ashamed, and it's not as though I want Harry to be associating with that boy, not at all! I would forbid it if I could. Dangerous family..."

Mr. Weasley's voice came in. "Very dangerous! Terrible people, that entire family! And Harry- we thought he knew what was best, you should hear the things Ron owls us about! Horrid, really." Harry shot a glare over at Ron, who returned it with full force.

Sirius spoke up here, and his voice was much more slurred than the others. "My godson is not a bad person!"

"He very well might be! Associating with those kinds of people, that house, pulling pranks left and right, sneaking about!" Mr. Weasley said in a way that Harry didn't think he could unless he was drunk. Harry motioned the twins over. They nodded and appeared a few moments later, one on either side of him.

"Yes?" they asked simultaneously.

"I'm not getting what you two did. Sounds like they're just drunk."

The twin on his left grinned at him. "You honestly don't know?" Harry shook his head, and the other twin grinned. "We put a virtually undetectable truth-telling potion in the alcohol."

Harry looked at them, and blinked. "That's it?" he asked.

The grins immediately fell off of both of the faces. "Well, yes. We didn't have much time to put something together."

Harry frowned at them.

"Oh, stop it with the frowns, will you!" One of them said to him, exasperated. A grin broke out over his face.

"I'm just saying that's it's not up to your usual."

Both of the boys looked very put out by this assessment. "We thought you'd appreciate knowing what your parents actually think about your house."

Harry smiled at them. "Yeah, I guess. Thanks, then."

The twins nodded to him and then crept off. Harry decided that he didn't near to hear anymore of the adult's tipsy rambling, and decided to take a walk in the garden to digest what he'd heard.

I guess they're not really okay with it, he thought sullenly, staring down at the walkway, not watching where he was going. A moment later, he was sprawled on top of another body, not knowing how it had happened. He looked down, flustered, and saw Dean Thomas squinting up at him.

"Oh, er- sorry, wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Harry sputtered, rolling off the other boy and getting to his feet. The other boy didn't say anything, just sat up and stared at him. After a few moments of this, Harry started to get slightly fidgety from the stare. "Umm, do you need help getting up, or...?" Harry asked him. Dean shook his head lightly, letting his back drop back down on the grass, staring up at the sky.

"Right then, I'll just be going, I suppose..."

Harry started to walk in the opposite direction, but his attention was pulled back to the other boy when he spoke.

"It's really a beautiful night tonight."

Harry turned and looked at him, still laying on his back and staring up. "Yeah..." Harry said slowly. There was something weird about this Gryffindor, just staring at the sky... Harry looked up, and was surprised to see that it was actually very beautiful, so many bright stars contrasting with the black of the sky. He sat down a few feet away from the Gryffindor, laying on his back as well, letting his thoughts roam. It wasn't until he spoke that Harry even realized there was another person now with them, in between himself and Dean.

"I never really got any of those poetic sayings about the stars at night."

Harry looked to his left, and saw the sandy-haired Irishman who had just spoken grinning up at nothing. He raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything, choosing instead to look back at the sky. A moment later, Dean spoke again.

"Seamus? Did you leave Ron inside alone?"

"Nev's there. they'll probably be looking for us soon."

"Hmm."

It fell silent again, and Harry felt himself starting to drift off into sleep...

*

Harry woke the next morning confused, not remembering falling asleep. He looked down and saw that he was wearing pajamas that he did not remember falling asleep in. He looked around and saw that he was in his room, and the sun was streaming in through the windows... He then realized that it was Christmas day, which meant presents! He shot out of bed and flew down the stairs, hoping that his parents were already awake. They didn't let him open his presents until they were there. He rushed into the large sitting room, and was pleasantly surprised to see his parents already there, sipping tea and talking. He noticed there were more presents than last year, but he suspected less were from his parents. He immediately grabbed the first package, and began tearing the paper off. He grinned when he saw what it was- a large bar of his favorite mint dark chocolate from his mom. He smiled at her before setting that aside and opening the rest of his presents.

He ended up with more or less the usual from the Weasleys- a sweater from Mrs. Weasley, a bag of jokes and candy from the twins, something Muggle from Mr. Weasley, a book from Percy, some chocolate from Ginny, and some little knick-knacks from Charlie and Bill. The only thing that was different was Ron's present. Usually, he got some Quidditch something, but this year all he'd received were a couple of Chocolate Frogs. Harry had mentally shrugged at that, not really caring about it. From Neville he had received a bag of owl treats that Harry suspected his grandmother had bought.

From both Theo and Blaise he had received books, the one from Theo entitled Rare Jinxes and Hexes That Could Be Useful One Day, and the one from Blaise a joke book that detailed several spells used for pulling pranks. Pansy had purchased him a hazardous amount of chocolate and sweets- not that he was complaining- and Draco had bought him a magical ice cream maker, which he was very eager to try out.

At family dinner on Christmas night, Harry remembered the night before.

"Oh- mum, dad, we're... moving?"

Lily looked up and smiled brightly at him. "Yes, sweetie. Back to Godric's Hollow. It really is a beautiful place. We're going to move this summer. Right when you get home."

Harry nodded. He honestly didn't care if they moved, as he would be spending the better part of the next six and a half years at Hogwarts.

*

The last few days of his break passed normally, with Harry eating the sweets he had gotten almost constantly. He was relieved when the morning of the train ride arrived, almost sprinting through the station to find his friends. He was very happy to be going back, and could not wait to see his friends again.

*

Harry started when he heard a curse being thrown at him from behind. He had just decided to take a short walk after dinner. It was his first night back, and he wanted to get reacquainted with the castle again. He turned around but didn't see anyone. He turned forward again, gripping his wand in his hand, and had just started walking again when another curse brushed past his side.

He jerked around and glared at the corridor, clutching his wand even tighter, all the years of hearing Auror stories and learning about protective measures from his parents coming back to him. He was just about to turn back around again when a curse was sent his way from behind a statue about ten feet away.

"Who's there?" Harry shouted in their direction, scanning the corridor. Three figures stepped out from behind the statue, their faces sneering and wands pointed directly at him. "Potter," the one in front spat. Harry thought he recognized the boy, but shook himself mentally. No, it can't be him, my own house would never... his thoughts were interrupted when another hex was shouted at him.

"Pulmofrendo!"

Harry dove out of the way, shoulder knocking roughly against the hard floor. He scrambled to his feet and took off down the corridor, adrenaline pumping through him. He had almost reached the corner when a hex caught his back and he felt an electric-like shock run through him, momentarily paralyzing him. More hexes were hurtled at him, all of them, thankfully, missing their target by a small fraction. The second Harry was able to move again, he sprinted around the corner and down that hall, trying to get away from his attackers as fast as possible. He ran up the next staircase he came across, and was immensely thankful when he saw the hallway he had appeared in was full of students. He moved to the center of the crowd, and let it carry him to the Slytherin common room. He immediately stepped into his dorm, and was surprised to see only Pansy in there.

"Pansy! Flint and his buddies attacked me!" He told the girl all about the attack. After he had finished, Pansy had a highly skeptical look on her face.

"Are you sure it was them?"

"Yes, Pans! They weren't exactly being discrete."

"Hmm."

"Ouch," Harry pouted, rubbing his head. "What was their problem?"

"Probably got orders from their parents over the hols to torment you. Don't let it bother you too much."

"Don't let it bother me? They're trying to kill me!"

Pansy scoffed at him. "It's not that serious, Harry."

"Really? The lung-crushing hex that was thrown at me was completely harmless, then?"

This time she rolled her eyes. "You are such a drama queen, Harry."

Harry gaped at her. "Lung! Crushing!"

"You don't even know that's what it was!"

"Yes, I do! Parents are Aurors, remember?"

"Harry, really..."

Harry threw his hands up in frustration. "Fine! I'll just have to get used to being attacked every time I leave a teacher's line of sight, then."

Pansy sighed. "Harry, you're a Slytherin. Look up some defensive spells, and just wait it out. They'll stop, especially if you can get some dirt on them."

"Dirt?"

"Blackmail, Harry. Blackmail."

"Oh."

"Yes. A little blackmail goes a long way. I'll try to get something on them. Now, how about you try to get to sleep? You look a bit shaken."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Will do, mother."

Pansy gave him a look, and then stomped out of the dorm, shutting the door behind her. Not ten seconds later, and the door was opened again and his roommates came walking in. He immediately told them all about the attack and what Pansy said. They all agreed with her on the blackmail, and moved on to other topics. Soon enough Harry had forgotten all about the attack, and was having fun sharing stories about vacation.

At about two o'clock in the morning, the boys decided it would probably be wise to go to sleep. Harry shot Draco an inquisitive look, and received a slightly reluctant nod in return. He hid his smile behind his pajamas as he got changed and climbed into the other boy's bed. He smiled when he felt the familiar feeling of sharing a bed with the blonde that he had missed over the holidays.

:::

Note: I made up the lung-crushing spell, "pulmofrendo". It literally means, "lung crusher" in Latin. (Well, that's what an online translator told me.)

I do realize that this story is just crawling by sluggishly. It will get much more interesting once I can get them through the early years, as I have good plans for the later years.

Umm, so... I'mgoingonvacationagainandmaybewon'thaveinternetpleasedon'tkillme. I will most likely be able to write, though, so I'll have something finished when I get back. Hopefully.

Review?