Woot, I'd like to thank all of those who have been reading and reviewing. ^^
Key: parseltongue
Christmas is a Wonderful Time to Tell Story
Severus Snape could not believe where he was or how he had gotten to being invited to the Christmas party. He guessed it must have been the Bambi eyes that Harry had given him. He watched James greet his guest warmly as many of his old house mates showed up. He almost choked when he saw the Weasleys. Harry had been standing by him as he spied on the new arrivals. Looking down at his smallest snake, he noticed the boy was being cuddled by what looked like an anaconda.
That was another thing Snape was trying to get used to, the actual snakes. The house they were in was littered with the serpents, both magical and mundane. In fact Snape had almost smiled when the youngest Weasley had nearly wet his pants as a small harmless constrictor slithered over James' boot. He ushered them into the living room when another "whoosh" sounded in the hall. Looking over at them, Snape noticed that it was the Black family.
"Sasha, Virgo's here!"
Snape liked over at his pupil and almost smiled for the second time that evening. The anaconda squeezed Harry for a second before slithering off to hug the oldest Black girl. James was letting himself get squeezed by Sirius and Remus was trying to pull him off their friend.
"NEVILLE!"
The whole hall winced as Harry ran out from behind Snape and tackled the twitchy Gryffindor to the ground. Ronald sneered at the younger boy, but Harry ignored it taking his friend from before Hogwarts to meet his new friends. Not even seconds after the Longbottoms' arrival, the Malfoys appeared. Draco was already running after Harry stepping on Sasha's tail. The little blonde stopped said sorry to her and then turned right back around to follow his friend.
Snape of course was taking in Lucius' face as he looked around him, the shock and awe caused him to do the unmanliest and undignifying things in the world. He fainted. James and the other families stared in shock at the prone blonde man and Narcissa just stepped over her husband and smiled at her confused and worried host. Hooking her arm around James', she led him to the ball room with a hugh smile on her face.
"Why didn't you tell anyone you were Lord Slytherin?"
"I didn't think it mattered, Remus and Sirius only found out I was when I had to discipline Harry. I usually do that in parseltongue so I know he's listening."
"Ah, know I understand why you had us portkey here. The Dark Lord would have a fit if he knew you were that actual Heir. You are the Heir of Slytherin right?"
"Direct descendent. The Last Slytherin was a woman named Odette. To protect her future family from being Dark she married into a very light and Gryffindor oriented family. It's a beautiful love story really and it proves that true Slytherins are stalkers."
"I'm not a stalker, Potter."
"Not talking to you, Snape."
"Lucius stalked me for a while before asking my hand. If I remember correctly, both you and Severus stalked…Evens. Did she ever know?"
"No, she never did, she believes she took almost everything in the Potter name which is about true, but Odette's dowry which was the inter Slytherin fortune and estates, could only be accessed by a direct blood descendent. I didn't know about it until the Goblins decided I was in enough trouble and told me about the vaults and estates. Apparently she even left in her will that 'Only a Potter in great need who loves without question will have my dowry.' I'm confused as to why I got it."
"Any Seer blood in your family?"
"Odette's mother."
"She knew."
Now James was even more confused. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what she was thinking. It was only then that Lucius picked himself off the floor and tried to look like he hadn't lost all his dignity. Snape thought was even more curious about the family. The last guests, which were the Grangers, arrived and James shooed Hermione up the stairs where Snape thought he'd disappear up too to check on the children. Peeking in the slightly open door, he noticed they were gathered around, from what Snape recognized as, a Tv watching a film.
Smirking to himself, Snape walked up behind the pile of children. He leaned down just enough and smirked.
"What are you doing?"
The eight first years jumped. Percy Weasley looked startled and the twin just grinned back at him having seen Snape walk in. the Firsties turned to glare at Snape before turning back to the movie they were watching.
"Tal as old as time…."
Snape raised an eye brow at the singing Tea pot, and then looked back down at the group. Draco, Blaise, Neville, Percy, the twins, and Ronald looked quite bored with the movie. Harry, Hermione and Daphne were so drawn into the movie. Noticing the kids were well, Snape headed back down to the party where Sirius and Narcissa where standing together in the back. Snape and James kept shooting each other looks and the two cousins smirked at each other as Lucius came over.
"Well, who'd have thought."
"Well, bless my soul."
"Well, who have known."
"Well who indeed."
"And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?
"It's so peculiar"
"We'll wait and see a few months more. There must be something there that wasn't there before."
"Well, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before."
"There may be something there that wasn't there before"
Remus looked over at his husband and his cousins and frowned at the "Evil Smirk of Eternal Doom" on the two Born Blacks' faces. This did not bode well.
-Jingle bell Snape smells….. Line-
James sank deep into the soft cushions of the chaise couch sitting in front of a roaring fire. It was Christmas Eve and fir some reason he couldn't help but think Sirius was up to something. Looking up he smiled as Harry made his way over to him, and plopped down on his legs. James smiled at his little boy. Harry smiled back and then laid down to cuddle into his father's side.
"Well, what have you been up to?"
"At School?"
"Yes, at school."
"Nothing much, but there's a Cerberus on the third floor and I found a funny mirror. Oh do you know who Nicolas Flamel is?"
"Harry you've read enough Fu….THERE'S A CERBERUS AT HOGWARTS?"
Harry gulped but then jumped up and ran as fast as he could away from his dad. James never shouted at him. Actually Harry didn't think he'd ever heard his dad shout before. James stared up at the ceiling in shock when he heard a deep chuckle followed by a soft giggle. Turning his head, the distraught man looked at two of his ancestors and frowned. Two portraits hung on either side of the mantel. One contained a man with long slightly messed black hair and gray eyes wearing medieval clothing. The other of a woman with the same black hair with almost white blue eyes wearing robes from the early eighteenth century.
"You scared him."
"Poor dear, you know Harry's shy."
James rolled over and bashed his head against the cushions. It wasn't often that Salazar and Odette decided that they would be kind enough to not pretend they were muggle paintings. Looking back up at them, James gave them a pitiful look only for Salazar to smirk.
"As much as it has disappointed me that my family couldn't stay within my noble house, I'm glad your eldest is a Gryffindor."
"Why is that?"
"Because I wouldn't claim that snot nosed brat my heir if you held me at gun point!"
"Wouldn't Sebastian fit better as the next Heir?"
"No, he's too much like his mother."
"Huh…you think I should keep Harry home?"
"James, sweetheart, did you ever find the chamber?"
"No, Odette, I didn't and Salazar won't say."
"Don't worry, Harry with find it. Think the best idea I ever had was marrying Jacob Potter."
"The messy hair isn't from the Potter family is it?"
"Nope, my beloved had perfectly straight red hair."
James gave Odette a deadpanned look before smacking his face back down into the throw pillow. He didn't know what was worse the sneering from the founder or the cooing over a lost love. James knew Salazar didn't approve of everything his descendents have done, like Odette marrying into a light family. Of course the one Salazar had been the most disappointed in was James. Salazar had a way of reading people so that he knew how they really were, something Harry had inherited.
He had never liked Lily. James had found out later, as soon as he had come back home his first year and declared he would marry Lily, Salazar had taken to spying on the girl at the castle. Salazar never told him what he had found about Lily that angered him so greatly.
"But it seems James you have a second chance, don't waist it."
"Huh?"
-Sirius laid an egg…Line-
The next morning Harry came running down the stairs a s James frowned behind him half asleep. Once again he was pulled out of his bed too earlier for anyone to function. As Harry bounced in placed James dropped onto his chaise and motioned for Harry to start with his presents. With a delighted squeal, Harry picked up his first gift and looked at it.
"Who's it from?"
"Malfoys."
Tearing the wrapping off, harry grinned at the high end Quidditch gear. Next was from the Zabinis. it was a very rare potions journal. Hermione and her family had since a toothbrush with some sweets and a book.
"What's the title?"
"The complete book of Grimm's Fairytales."
"I really shouldn't have let Sirius take you to the see the Aladdin."
Harry just grinned and smiled as he tore into another gift. It was from the Green grasses. He almost giggled as he pulled up a deer plushie. James groaned at the toy. Figured that would happen. The next gift Harry opened was from his mother. James noticed it was nothing more than a sweater, a couple pairs of trousers, and a small tin of sweets. James was beginning to think this would be a trend if he didn't start taking these sweets.
Harry put all his presents from his friends and family aside then found at one more grapping the soft wrapped packaged Harry pulled out a cloak.
"Well, I'll be a wart on Merlin's soggy arse."
"Daddy!"
"Now you've got part one of what you need to be a true marauder. Use it well and try not to let Snape take it."
Harry nodded and smiled. Pulling the cloak around him, Harry stared wide eyed back at his father.
"That has been in the Potter family for as long as we can trace it back. Take care of it."
Harry nodded and started to bounce around as he handed James his presents. The older potter could help but think this had been the best Christmas they had had in a while.
-Wormtail lost a toe and Voldy got a way-
That's it for this chapter, please review!
