Chapter six- Receiving and explaining
Harry was jerked awake the next morning by Fred sitting on his feet. "Get off," he mumbled burying his face further into the pillow.
"Harry," George whispered in his ear from where he was sat behind him. "Harry, wake up, we need to talk to you." Harry rolled over, glaring at them before stretching, dislodging Fred from his feet. He pushed George off the bed and stood.
"I need to pee," he muttered, pulling on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt that he would latter discovers was Fred's and stumbled out the door and down the corridor, heading for the bathroom. He relieved himself and headed towards Sirius's room, intending to talk to him.
He went to knock on the Gryffindor gold door when he heard a voice from inside. "Sirius," Harry called, knocking softly so as to not wake up Remus in the next room. He heard the voice behind the door again and presumed that Sirius was calling him in. He froze to the spot when he peered in.
"Mmn, Remus," Sirius mumbled from where he was wrapped up in his sheets. "Feels good!"
Harry snapped the door closed, blushing to match Ron's hair. He stood there for a few minutes, trying unsuccessfully to stop blushing and erase the last few minute from his mind before reluctantly heading back to his bedroom.
He peeked inside and found only Fred, bent over his trunk rummaging for something and muttering under his breath. He snuck past and grabbed the first set of clothing that came to hand and returned to the bathroom to get changed. He found that he had grabbed one of his newer t-shirts, a dark red with golden stitching and writing. Warning, it had written on the back, likely to explode at any time. He pulled on a pair of plain black trousers and a pair of Dobby's socks before venturing down to breakfast.
"Hey Harry," Sirius said as he past the living room. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure," he muttered, trying and failing not to blush. He shut the door behind him and plopped down into one of the sofas.
"I want to talk about the Twins," Sirius started cautiously. "I want to know what's going on."
Harry sighed. "I ran into the twins a few days ago in one of the bathrooms," he started as he curled into one of the armchairs. "They wanted to know if the rumour I was gay was true. They acted so dominating, it made me high and when they kissed me," he blushed. "It was amazing Sirius, I passed out and woke up to them kissing. I was so delirious that when they stopped I wanted more."
"So what's the problem?" Sirius asked, still cautious. He was slightly embarrassed to be having this conversation but recognised that it needed to be done.
"They just left me there, on the bathroom floor sticky, hard and needy, all alone without so much as a sign that they wanted to-wanted to…" Harry found himself crying as he tried to finish and explain how much they hurt him. "It hurt, Sirius, I thought we were friends, I've liked them both since fifth year but they hurt me, used me, then just left," he sobbed.
"Oh, Harry," Sirius sighed pulling him out of the chair to hug him. "I'm sure there was more to it than that. You said yourself that you were-um-delirious, you might have missed something," Sirius said awkwardly.
"I would have remembered; I was so focused on them but nothing. And now they're trying again and I've had enough hurt. I can't take anymore, Sirius, I just want to finish this without problems," he sobbed.
Sirius was about to say something but the door opened and Fred poked his head through. "The girls say that breakfast is ready…" he trailed of as he saw the state Harry was in. Harry jumped to his feet muttered about cleaning up and pushed past Fred and ran back up the stairs. "Harry, what...?"
"You and your brother have some explaining to do," Sirius spat.
"What did we do?" Fred asked, generally bemused.
"You hurt him, played with his feelings," Sirius snarled.
"I don't…"
"Fred, what's taking so long..?" George trailed off as he took in the scene.
"Sirius seems to think we hurt Harry and played with his feelings," Fred explained.
"What!?" George exploded. "We would never do that to our chosen. How can you think that?"
"Your chosen?" Sirius asked sharply.
"Yes," Fred said calmly. "We didn't even realise we had chosen him until he nearly dies in forth year. We choose not to act on it, firstly because he was too young and then later because we thought he was straight. Now, how have we supposedly hurt him?"
"He thinks you used him, played him, when you…" Sirius trailed off blushing.
"When we snogged him in the bathroom," George said bluntly.
"And we didn't play him. We care about him, Sirius, have always done one way or another," Fred yelled. "We want him to love us, we would never hurt him. And if we did, it wasn't deliberate and we're sorry, so sorry, sorry we didn't want to go too far too fast and that we didn't want to scare him away. We should never have left him there like that, we realise that but we weren't thinking to clearly either." Fred was nearly in tears by the time he finished speaking and George pulled him to his chest, tears in his own eyes.
"He wasn't the only one hurt," George said softly. "When he started to ignore us, we thought that he had played us. It hurt and he wouldn't even talk to use anymore."
"I'm sorry," Harry's voice made them jump and they turned to see him stood in the door way, head bowed. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I should have known that you would never play with a person's feeling's like that but…"
"Oh Harry," George said, pulling him into his arms beside Fred, who wrapped one arm around him so that all three of them where cuddled together.
"If you four don't come for breakfast right now, you won't get any," Pansy yelled, breaking the moment. The three shared a look while Sirius stood awkwardly near the door.
"We'll talk later, today is for you not us," Fred murmured, stepping back. Harry shrugged, still not looking up.
"Tell Pansy that I'm not hungry and am going to help Madam P so she can come today instead," Harry told them as they walked towards the kitchen. Harry turned towards the front door but paused as he passed a mirror to look. A pale face, blood shot eyes and a bleeding nose stared back.
"Here they are," Sirius exclaimed as both Poppy and Harry walked into the living room.
"Yes, here we are," Poppy said, bustling Harry over to a seat. "Now you sit down, Harry and stay sat down." She conjured a blanket and wrapped it round him, ignoring the fidgeting and scowl.
"I am not invalid," he snapped at her when she went to add another one.
"Of course not," Poppy muttered. "Mrs Parkinson, is there any food left, Harry needs to eat something."
"Madam Pomfrey," Harry's voice warned her to stop so she stepped away. Pansy bustled back in with some toast but Harry just placed it on the floor by his feet, ignoring the worried look's everyone sent his way. "Where's my presents?"
Everyone laughed. "We decided we would go in reverse age order, so Denis is first," Sirius said, bouncing in his seat.
"It's not very much," Dennis muttered, handing his over. Harry untangled himself from the blanket to take the rectangular shaped present and ripped into it. "It's muggle but I thought you would like it."
Harry smiled as he pulled out a four picture photo frame. It was sky blue in colour with the word memories engraved all around the edge in purple. "It's beautiful, Dennis," Harry murmured as his gaze was drawn to the only picture in the frame, a wizarding photo of him chasing Colin round the common room trying to get the picture in his hands. Colin was smiling and laughing as he dodged between the other Gryffindor's before Harry finally caught him and grabbed the photo out of his hands. Then it would start again. "Thank you," he smiled at Dennis.
"I'm next," Ginny said, dumping a small but heavy present in his lap. Harry to one look at the smirk on her face and whipped out his wand to cast detection charms. When he deemed it safe he carefully unwrapped the parcel. He blinked at it. "You're as paranoid as Moody so I thought I could help you along," Ginny said brightly as Harry picked up the hip flask.
"Thank you, I think," Harry said turning it over in his hand. He finally placed it on the floor and looked expectantly at Luna. She passed him a lumpy present in blue wrapping paper. He instantly ripped into it and pulled out a white woollen blanket. He caught flashes of colour and looked at it more closely to see that everyone's signatures where embroidered in their house colours all over the blanket. "Luna," he whispered, staring at it. "It's…" he couldn't think what to say. "Thank you," he mumbled, hugging it to his chest.
"That's why you ask for our signatures," Sirius said, slightly bemused by his godson's reaction.
"Yes," Luna said dreamily. "The notram said he might need it soon."
"Need it?" Hermione asked, watching her best friend search through all the names on the blanket. Luna only shrugged, smiling when Harry exclaimed loudly.
"There's Molly and Arthurs signatures on here," Harry said, confused.
"I asked if I could borrow their wedding certificate, it had both their signatures on it," Luna drifted over to sit on Neville's lap, getting a laugh from both Neville and Harry.
"How did you make it?" Ginny asked interestedly. "You can't have hand sewn it."
"I knitted the blanket myself then laid it flat on my bed. I placed all of the pieced of paper your signatures were on where I wanted them then charmed several needles to each trace a different colour ink. Each needle had a different colour thread."
There was a stunned silence broken by Harry giggling. "You should all know by now that Luna's smart," he snorted.
"Well done Miss Lovegood," Flitwick squeaked. "When we get back to school remind me to award ten points to Ravenclaw for outstanding charm work."
"Charms always was mummy's best subject," Luna breezed.
"On that note," Padma said brightly, used to Luna from sharing a house for six years. "Here's my presents." She handed him to small boxes wrapped in red paper. Harry opened the lid of the smallest one and licked his lips.
"Orange chocolates," he cheered. "And Liquorice wands," he continued, opening the bigger box.
Poppy immediately snatched them out of his hands. "I'll keep these until later," she said sternly to a pouting Harry.
"Fine," he grumbled. "Where's my next present?"
"Me," Neville grinned, used to Harry's mood swings. "I knew you needed another one."
Harry moodily opened the golden wrapped present and grinned slightly. "Thanks Nev," he said holding up the dagger holder to show everyone else.
"Why do you have a dagger holder?" Remus asked suspiciously.
"Back up, in case I lost my wand," Harry muttered as he summoned his old holder with his two sided dagger. "Don't touch it though." He warned Remus as he reached out to touch the dagger. "One side silver the others just normal steel. It's so it would protect me from Greyback. Lucius showed me how to use it." As he was talking he switched the dagger from its old holder to the new, red and sliver dragon skin one.
"I'll bare that in mind," Remus muttered, the other adults bar Dumbledore and Snape looking slightly worried.
"I only carry it now because some of the Darks supporters are still around," Harry said absently, still studying the dagger holder.
"I think he likes you present, Nev," Luna breezed.
"I think so to," Neville said, grinning.
"Yeah, yeah," Theo muttered. "Smug bastard. Harry, do you want my present or what?"
"Of course I do," Harry said, coming out of his daze. "It's just…never mind. Can I have my present now, Theo?"
Theo handed over a green wrapped present, looking slightly confused. "It's not much and is kinda a waste of time now that you're not doing Quidditch anymore…" he babbled. He shut up when Harry shot him a strange look.
"It's the thought that counts, not the actually present," Harry said strongly, pulling the paper off to reveal a broom servicing kit. "Thanks," he said happily. "The one Hermione got me ran out last month and my brooms starting to look a little worse for wear. What?" he asked when he saw the puzzled faces. "Just cause I don't play Quidditch anymore doesn't mean I don't fly."
They nodded in understanding as Harry added the large box to the growing pile at his feet. Hannah stood from her seat next to Susan and handed him her present. "My present doesn't look that good when you compare it to the present you got me," she said nervously as he opened the black velvet box and gasped.
"They're beautiful," Harry gasped, pulling out one of the two items in the box. It was a cufflink; black in colour and a 3D hexagon in shape. The edges where decorated with a bronze Celtic design and the surface was inlaid with a small emerald.
"Thanks," Hannah smiled bashfully. "That one's a portkey that will bring you here when you activate it. The other ones charmed to act like a shield against all but the Darkest of spells."
"Huh!" Harry muttered, smiling at her then going back to examining the cufflinks. "Thank you; I'll wear these with pride."
"Do you mind if I have a look at the spell work, Harry?" Flitwick squeaked. Harry carefully handed the medium size box while Hannah returned to her seat.
"Who's next?" Harry muttered.
"I think it's me," Terry said, handing over a familiar shaped parcel.
"I know what that is without opening it," Harry chuckled.
"Well, I ran out of ideas on what to get everyone," Terry shrugged. Harry grinned at his blunt honesty and open up the blue wrapped present to reveal a book. A guide to hexes and their counters by Richard Paterson.
"Huh, that's not bad for a present actually," Harry grinned. "Thanks Terry," he added it to the pile and carefully set the cufflinks on the arm of his chair.
"I think you're like my present, if only because it will annoy Hermione," Draco drawled, not even standing from his seat in Severus's lap to hand him another small jewellery box. Inside was a small diamond stud earring which made Harry raise his eyebrow at the blonde. "You can program three glamour's which are voice activated."
"Wow," Harry said slightly shocked. "Thanks. Um, Poppy," he turned begging eyes to the healer. "Can you pierce my eye please?" Poppy sighed and did as he asked. Harry happily placed the earring in his left ear. He paused, cocking his head. "I'm hungry." He stated and Pansy immediately shot off to the kitchen and to make him something. She came back ten minutes later with a large toasted sandwich. Harry happily munch on it while everyone else told him about what they got for Christmas.
"I'm full," he said a while later, pushing a third of the sandwich away. "Thank you Pansy."
"That's alright, Harry, I like being able to make my own meals," Pansy smiled.
"If your hunger has been satisfied," Severus drawled but he was smiling slightly.
"Deans next," Seamus chuckled.
Dean handed a thin envelope which Harry happily ripped into. He gasped happily as he pulled out a hand drawn picture of the DA from fifth year. "I drew that in fifth year and thought you'd want it so I copied it."
"Thank you Dean," Harry muttered. He bent down and pulled the picture frame into his lap and slid the picture into the bottom left corner. "There, I only need two more pictures and I can hang it in my memory room."
"Memory room?" Sirius asked.
"I'll explain later," Harry said. "I want to open my presents." Sirius shook his head with a smile but left it alone.
"It's another book I'm afraid," Justin chuckled as he handed over a black wrapped present.
"A book on Vampires," Harry said bouncing. "Great, I always wanted to understand more about Severus," he said happily, sending even Severus laughing.
"Very funny, brat," he said fondly.
"I try," Harry grinned. "Won-Won's turn."
"Shut up," Ron muttered at the reminder of his relationship with Lavender. Both he and Lavender were blushing. "Um, right, there's two in there and one might upset you but I found it and thought you would want it so… yeah." He handed over a lumpy red parcel.
Harry opened it and gasped. "It's a Weasley jumper," he muttered, bowing his head. "How?"
"Mum starts knitting them around Easter," Bill said gently. "We all have one from this year. Ron found them when we were cleaning out their bedroom."
Harry gave a small sob and hugged the jumper to his chest and curling up around it. "I didn't mean to make you this upset," Ron yelped but Hermione hushed him.
"Be quite Ron," she murmured. "He never really mourned your mum and dad's death, I don't think he wanted to believe they were gone."
"Oh," Ron muttered.
"Oh Harry," the twins murmured and stood from the position at the older brother's feet and sat down on each side of him, hugging him to their chests. "It's alright, Harry, we all miss them."
"I know- know it sounds-sounds horrid but-but she was more my-my mum than Lily," Harry sobbed, into Georges chest.
"We understand Harry," Fred said, shooting a pale faced Sirius a glare. "She was the first person to really try and take care of you. You don't remember you real mum so ours took her place." Sirius deflated as did Severus who had looked slightly angry.
"Sorry, me being silly," Harry muttered, rubbing at his face and reaching for the rest of Ron's present. He leafed through the sweet that had scattered over his lap and pulled out a small pack of Bubble Balls, a sweet that filled the stomach with harmless bubbles for a few minutes, and chewed on one.
"Can I have my next present," he muttered into the awkward room.
He spent the next fifteen minutes clutching the jumper as he quietly opened his presents; an old picture of Lily and Susan's mum from Susan, a bottle of Firewhiskey from Seamus, a battle robe that was charmed to protect the wearer from all but the Darkest curses and the Unforgivables from Blaise and a new purple cloak with the pureblood sign embroidered in the centre in gold. It was Lavenders present that more of a reaction than a quiet thank you.
"Merlin!" he yelped as he opened the wooden box she had given him. "Lavender, what the hell!?"
"I thought you would appreciate them," she said, grinning quite evilly.
"What is it?" Fred asked from where they were now sat at Harry's feet. He reached up and tried to look inside only to have the lid slammed in his face.
"No!" a bright red Harry gasped and tried to keep it away from the curious twins as they tried to steal it to look. Sirius came up behind him and when he held it high snatched it away. "No, don't!"
Sirius peered inside and started to laugh. He handed it to the twins who grinned evilly upon seeing the contents. They leered up at Harry, "We could make good use of these later," Fred said, pulling out a bottle of lube. Everyone either went bright red or burst out laughing.
"Is there anything else in there?" Charlie asked.
"Yep!" "No!"
The twins ignored Harry and went to pull something else from the box only to have it snatched from their hands.
"There are sex toys," Harry squeaked. "Happy? Now leave it and I'll burn them later. Next present."
Everyone was laughing by now as Harry magically sealed the box shut and placed it on the floor near his pile of present.
Hermione took pity on him and handed over her present. "I don't know why you wanted this but…"
"Rituals and Enchantments by Matilda Malfoy, goodie," Harry said as he unwrapped the book.
"I thought you hated reading," Luke Nash laughed as he handed his present over. Harry immediately put on the simple leather bracelet and gave the older boy a hug. Then he groaned.
"Alright, you two," Harry said to the twins at his feet, who were both holding out a present. "Hand them over and I withhold the right to murder you if it's a prank." They both smiled softly at him, putting him at ease.
He unwrapped Fred's first and smiled as he held a bronze and silver pocket watch. "Thank you," he muttered and bent down to peck Fred on the forehead. He was blushing as he opened Georges present; ignoring everyone else's shocked gaze and the Twins happy smiles.
Draco snapped out of it when he saw Harry slide a ring onto his middle finger. "Merlin and Morgana!" he gasped. "That's a courting ring!" he yelped, grabbing Harry's left hand. Everyone's eyes shot to the beautiful ring, an emerald nestled between two rubies.
Harry was quiet for a moment, studying the ring and it's meaning with everyone else. Finally, he looked up and meet a few of the adult's eyes; Dumbledore, McGonagall, Tonks and Kingsley. "I don't know," he murmured, taking the ring off and setting it back in its case. "I need to think," he said, looking down at them.
"It's ok," George answered, sounding only slightly disappointed.
"We know it's a big decision," Fred continued, sounding only slightly worse than his brother.
"Both of you?!" Several of the rooms occupants exclaimed.
It was Pansy that won the contest, however, when she exclaimed, "You mean those rumours were true?!"
Harry chuckled weakly, still caught up in his own thoughts. "I think," Dumbledore interrupted before he could be interrogated. "That we should continue with the present giving. It is nearly lunch time and I must insist that those who need to return to school after." Harry shot him a grateful smile that no one else saw, to busy nodding in agreement.
Katie handed over a plain envelope, grinning. "I think both you and Hermione are going to like my present," she giggled. Harry quirked an eyebrow but opened the envelope carefully.
"Papers," Harry muttered, confusedly looking at the small pile of papers inside.
"My revision notes from last year," Katie explained, still giggling.
"Oh, thanks," he exclaimed. "I was looking for someone to lend me some."
"I know, that's why I gave you mine," she laughed.
"Well, thank you," he bounced. "Who's next?"
"Lee," Fred grinned.
Harry groaned, "I repeat what I said to the twins." Lee only grinned at him from his place next to Katie before removing his arm from round her waist and handed a silver wrapped present open.
"You need to unshrink it first," Lee told him as he returned to his seat. Harry grabbed his wand and unshrunk it, sending everyone laughing when it ripped through the silver wrapping. Harry smiled when he saw the beautiful owl perch made of a dark wood. Harry summoned it closer so he could look more closely at it. "Made of oak wood. Has a silver base. Oh, it has her name on it," he muttered. "Thanks Lee, I love it and I'm sure Hedwig will to," he gushed.
"Mine next," Alicia handed over a small envelope.
"Why are all my presents in envelopes," he pretended to whine.
"Just open it," Alicia sighed but she was smiling. Harry giggled as he opened it.
"Ooh, thank you, now I only need one more picture," Harry said happily as he added the picture to his new frame. It was of the Gryffindor Quidditch team in second year; Harry sat on Oliver's shoulders that stood in the middle, the twins either side to him. The three chasers where knelling in front of them and all of them were laughing as Fred and George tickling Harry before he slapped them both round the head.
"I remember that," Oliver laughed.
"You know, from the way you three are acting it almost looks like you already liked each other," Hermione mused. Everyone laughed as all three of them went red.
"Here's my present," Angelina giggled as she handed a small green wrapped box. "From what I've heard you won't be using them but…" she trailed off with a small smile.
"It doesn't matter," Harry smiled at her. "Like I said to Theo, it's the thought that counts." He held up the seeker gloves that she had given him. "I may never get a chance to use them but any kids I could have might." He ignored the sympathetic gazes that burned into him from those who knew he wouldn't live long enough to have kids. He added the seeker gloves to his growing pile and looked to Oliver for his next present. He pouted when he was handed another envelope, this time white.
"You better be thankful for that," Oliver said sternly. "It took a lot of persuading to get it." Then he smiled, showing everyone that he was joking.
"A session ticket for the Quidditch world cup," Harry gasped. "With a back stage pass for the finals." He jumped up and hugged the older boy thanking him over and over. Even if he wouldn't be able to go to the last few matches, including the finals, he was still thankful that Oliver had gotten them for him.
The adults shared smiles at his excitement and chuckled when he tackled the larger boy. "It's nice to see him generally excited for a change," Poppy murmured to McGonagall.
"Yes, lately he has seemed… cold, unfeeling," McGonagall replied. "I think these last two days have been the only time since the summer that he has actually shown what he is feeling."
"His mood swings worry me," Poppy confessed.
"Why?"
"He is a natural submissive and has a carrier's mark."
"You think his body is preparing him?"
"Yes but that is not what worries me. His magic will be split between trying to fight the disease and preparing his body for pregnancy. Along with his classes he will magically exhausted."
"I see," Dumbledore joined the conversation. "Maybe it would be best if he was put on theory work in his classes."
"I will talk to him about it," Poppy agreed.
"Oh wow," Harry's voice drew their attention back to Harry, who was holding a silver robe with gold embroidery up to show every. "Thanks Percy, it's stunning. Now I have something to wear to Oliver and Angelia's wedding," he said happily, folding the robe and placing back in its orange wrapped box.
"I'm glad you like it Harry," Percy said softly. "Penelope helped me chose it."
"Of course I did," Penelope laughed as she handed over her own present. "He wanted you to have this horrid red robe that would have clashed horribly with you skin."
Laughing as Percy blushed; Harry opened his present from the graduated Ravenclaw and pouted when he found a book. Then he read the title, curses and counters, and grinned. "Thanks Penny."
"You're welcome, I didn't really know what to get you so I settled for a safe option," Penelope sighed.
"It's alright," Harry smiled. "I'll soon have a book on every subject," he giggled.
"I'm sure you will," Dora laughed. "My present isn't a physical thing. Well, he will be 5 and a half months but anyway, I'd like you to be my baby's godfather." She shifted in her seat, calming when Kingsley placed a hand on her knee.
"You want… godfather… me…" Harry spluttered. "I… thank you, I'm honoured."
"It wasn't really much of a choice," Dora chuckled. "Susan's going to be its godmother."
"Why have you chosen teenagers, no offence, to take care of the child if neither of can't," Katie asked.
"Well, I was always going to have Harry as the godfather because of how he handled that baby we rescued from that village," Dora smiled sadly, all of them remembered the barley month old baby that had been found in the runes of the village, the only survivor. Harry had looked after her for a month until a foster home could be found.
"I agreed with her, he would be a natural father," Kingsley smiled at him.
"Anyway, we realised that mum was too old to look after a baby and Kingsley's cousin doesn't like me for my family background," Dora continued. "We decided that we would rather have someone young because, even though magical being's live twice as long as muggle's, they could look after him for longer. So I chose Susan, who's been like a little sister to me since I first meet her when she was nine years old."
Susan smiled even as Harry sat shell shocked, "I think I can speak for both of us when I say we are both honoured."
"Yeah, honoured," Harry muttered dazedly. He blinked. "Are you sure?" he asked the couple, biting his lip.
"Yes, Harry," Tonks said with a mixture of pity and amusement. "We're sure."
"Ok," he whispered. He smiled, albeit weakly.
"Here, this should cheer you up a bit," Charlie said, chucking a book shaped present at him. Harry smiled as he opened the present, not seeing the mischievous look on Charlie's face.
He squeaked when he read the title of the book. Male's safe pleasure. He quickly stuffed it in the box from Lavender. The twins caught a glimpse of the title, however, and cracked up. "A book on contraceptive spells?!"
"Mainly," Charlie leered. Beside him Luke rolled his eyes. "It also has some more-"
"Alright, alright," Harry squeaked. "I think they know what the book contains. Why, oh why do have I have such perverted friends?" he asked himself.
"Why indeed?" Snape drawled through twitching lips. Harry didn't know is he wanted to kill someone or was trying not to laugh. "Can we hurry this along, I would like to get my classroom ready for the incompetent idiot in second year."
"Of course Severus, whatever you say Severus," Harry grinned. Snape snorted.
"Well, to appease the dreaded potions master," Bills lips twitched as he handed his present over.
"Thanks Bill," Harry said happily, reading the contents page of runes and arithmacy, a guide for emergencies.
"That's okay, Harry," Bill smiled at him. "Although, I don't know why you wanted a book on runes and arithmacy but I found one you would be able to understand, no offence."
"None taken," Harry laughed. "I wanted to change my options in forth year but by then it was too late." His friends chuckled, Hermione especially, remembering when he would borrow her books.
"Here you are cub," Remus smiled as he handed over another book shaped present. "To add to your library."
"Thanks Remmy," Harry smiled back and it widened when he read the title of the book, a wolfs perspective, a guide to werewolf's packs and society.
"It's alright cub," Remus answered.
"I suppose I am next," Snape sighed, handing over a vial with a grey liquid inside. "This is the Caecitas potion, a potion used for correcting sight. Be careful with it, I will not make another. Fresh Whomping Willow leaves are very hard to harvest and I will not go near that tree again."
"Yes sir," Harry said, his eyes sparkling.
"Do not take it now," Snape warned. "It will cut the nerves to your eyes for 14 hours so you do not feel it working, as such you will not be able to see while it works."
"Thanks Sev," Harry smiled getting a tight smile in return. "Madam P, can you look after this tell we get back to school, please?"
"Of course, Harry," she grinned, taking the potion from him.
"Thanks," Harry grinned back. Seeing Sirius fidgeting in his seat, "Go on then Sirius but if it's a prank I will put you on hospital rest for the next year."
"It's not, I promise," Sirius jumped over to him and hugged him before handing two presents to him, one a small jewellery box and the other another potion vile. "The potions the Animagus Adapertio potion, it will turn you into you animagus form for half an hour. It can only be used once though."
"Thanks, Sirius," Harry squealed, hugging him fiercely. He then undid the latch on the jewellery box and stared.
"I know it looks like I'm trying to replace James but I'm not it's just that it's not likely that I'm going to have an heir and you my godson and you have Black in your blood from your great-grandmother so that give you the right to be the Black heir, if you except I mean, you don't have to, you could say-"Sirius babbled nervously.
"Sirius, shut up," Harry cut him off, slipping the ring onto his finger. "I'll do the whole formal thing before I leave, I've only got seven presents left."
"Oh," Sirius murmured before grinning widely and returning to his place next to Dora. Kingsley moved uncurling himself from around his wife long enough to pass Harry his present before going back to rubbing her stomach.
"Thanks Kings," Harry said with a teasing pout. "I know where your priority's lie."
Kingsley rolled his eyes. "My present was actually joined with your job offer, which I thought you'd say yes to," he explained to Harry as he opened it.
"Auror robes," Harry smiled sadly. "I wish I could have worn them but being an Auror's just not my calling."
"It doesn't matter, you can still use them as duelling robes," Fred piped up, cheering Harry up slightly.
"Or you could use them for role play with you boyfriends in the-" George leered.
"I think you're getting ahead of yourself there George," Harry warned but there was a slight smile and his right hand didn't move from where it had been playing with George's hair.
"Definitely getting ahead of himself," Sirius growled, making everyone laugh behind their hands. "Even if he accepts the courtship, you won't touch him." Both twins nodded with false sincerity.
"Down mutt," Harry joked, making Sirius glare at him playfully. "Alright, I'll shut up now."
"Alright you two," chuckled Amelia. She handed Harry a brown wrapped present and he ripped into it with gusto. Harry opened the velvet jewellery box and smiled at Amelia.
"It's lovely," Harry thanked her.
"It was a present from your mother," Amelia said quietly. "It was my 22nd birthday, my first after all of my family died. Well, apart from you Susan but you were only six months old. I thought I would spend my birthday on my own but at half six in the morning your mother portkeyed into the house and Apparited me in my sleep to your parent's spare room. I had one of the best birthdays since I was a little girl that day."
"I remember that," Sirius exclaimed and Remus nodded. A few of the oldest in the room laughed and the teen stared.
"Anyway," Amelia said above the laughter. "I thought you would want something of your mothers. It belonged to her before she gave it to me."
"Thank you," he whispered. He pulled the chain of the necklace out of the box and studied the locket hanging from the chain. It was oval shaped and gold, decorated with a vintage flower style. He opened it and found a picture of all the young members of the order on one side and a blank space on the other.
"It used to have a picture of my family but I took it out and put it in a new locket I got from my new boyfriend," she blushed when they all made whistling noises.
"I think I know exactly what photo I want in there," he said excitedly. "Before we leave can we all take one together, please?" he turned puppy eyes on everyone and they caved, nodding. "I've already had Lucius' present," he said happily. "Lucius owl ordered it and had it sent directly to me," he hastily explained when he saw Kingsley's look.
"So that was what he had me send after it went through the searches," Kingsley sighed.
"Well, what did my father give you?" Draco asked.
"He gave me an aftershave that change sent to the person who smells it favourite smell," he grinned.
"Of course he did," Draco muttered, smiling.
"Only four left now," Harry said happily.
"Yes and I am next," Poppy chuckled, handing over her present.
"Another book?" Harry asked as he looked at the parcel shape.
"Just open it," Poppy giggled. She full out laughed when she saw his face, joined by everyone else, as he stared at the present.
In his lap was a bronze plaque. It was the size of a shoe box and had Harry's name at the top. Listed underneath were all the injuries he had ever had at Hogwarts. "What?" he asked confusedly.
"That's going on your hospital room door," Poppy giggled. "Along with a name plaque portraying it to be the Harry James Potter private room."
"But…but you can't do that," Harry whined while the rest of the room laughed.
"It's already done, my boy," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at him. "Poppy had two copy's made of that plaque, one for you and one for the room."
"Not fair," Harry pretended to sulk as he took Flitwick's present. Opening it he looked puzzled. "Another ring?" he held up a man's ring with a small diamond.
"The diamond can hold a memory and is shaped in such a way that if you rub it, it will project the memory onto the nearest surface," Flitwick explained.
"Thanks sir," Harry smiled at him.
"And now for me," McGonagall muttered, handing over her own present.
"Now this one is a book," Harry laughed. He opened the red parcel and chuckled. "A diary. What do I need a diary for?"
"Sometimes you need to write your thoughts and feelings down," McGonagall told him gently and he smiled at her.
"Thanks professor but I doubt I'll use it," Harry chuckled. "Anyway, Albus I just now you are desperate to give me yours."
"Yes, here you are," said man chuckled as he handed the last present to Harry.
Harry removed the golden wrapping paper and opened the cardboard box within. "Medi-Magic books! Hold on, this must be the whole of the Flourish and Blotts Medi-Magic section."
"Not quite," Dumbledore chuckled. "Now, I believe it's time for lunch and then I think the children can stay until four as long as their homework is complete."
The teens moaned and groaned but didn't argue. "I'm going to dump most of my presents back to school I'll be back soon," Harry said, standing and stretching. He waved his wand at the presents and they shrunk and flew into the box that Dumbledore had given his text boxes in. He flicked his wand again and the box shrunk. Harry picked it up and put it in his pocket before moving towards the floo. He was followed by Poppy, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick and he allowed them to leave first before following Poppy to the hospital wing.
