Here it is, day number nine and one day closer to Christmas. I've been getting wonderful responses from all of you and I would like to thank you all for them! Hope you keep enjoying this story.
Day 9: Oh Christmas Tree
Hearing a loud knock on the door, six year old Harry leapt off the couch and ran to answer the door.
"Harry James Snape, I suggest you stop your butt right now or else." Severus ordered sternly from behind his morning copy of the Daily Prophet causing his son to come to an immediate halt.
Harry stomped his feet as he turned to face Severus who was folding up the paper and laying it on the table. "But Daddy, I know who it is," he whined out.
"And how did you know that, Mr. Snape?" When he had adopted the boy, Severus had the boy take his last name, but he was still considered the Potter heir.
Harry folded his arms and pouted. "Because Daddy. I know that it's Hagrid with our tree. He said he was coming today with it."
"Harry, I don't care if you think you know who's at the door. You do not answer it unless I tell you to." The man stated sternly. However, hearing a second knock on the door, Harry turned and made his way to the door to open it. "I suggest you stop right now or else there will be no tree today."
"But Daadddy—" Harry whined but was quickly interrupted by Severus.
"Five minutes in the corner, Harry. I will not tolerate this behavior today."
"But Dad!" Harry cried, tears starting to fall from his eyes. "I wanna see the tree!"
"Not with that attitude you won't. I suggest you get in that corner right now or it will be ten minutes," Severus told him not backing down.
"You're being mean! I just wanna see the tree!"
Severus swept forward and knelt down in front of his son and gave him a stern look. "I suggest you go and stand in that corner right now or it shall be fifteen minutes, no tree, and an early bedtime. Is that what you want?"
Harry shook his head, tears still rolling down his cheeks. He sniffled loudly and stomped his way over to the corner. Severus shook his head and made his way to the door. "Ten minutes, Harry. Remember, no talking and no moving."
Severus opened his front door, and smirked at the sight that met him. Hagrid stood behind a five foot Christmas tree. The man was considerably taller than the tree, though, causing the tree to look more like a tall branch. "Hello, Hagrid, thank you for bring us the tree."
"'Ello, Severus. It was no problem. Where would you like it?" Hagrid asked, a grin planted on his face.
"Right over here," Severus motioned to an empty area in the living room, allowing Hagrid to enter with the tree. Hagrid found the empty pot and placed the tree inside of it. Severus waved his wand, securing the tree and filling the large container with.
"Thank you again, Hagrid."
Hagrid waved him off. "It was nothin', Severus. Anything for you and 'Arry. Speaking of the tyke, where is he?"
Severus motioned to where Harry was standing with his face planted in the corner. "It seems our young Mr. Snape felt the need to disobey his father this morning and give him attitude as well. We both felt it beneficial if he spent some time in the corner for his actions."
Hagrid chuckled. "Ah, the tyke is just excited is all."
Severus frowned. "That may be, but he still must follow my rules." He led the large man out the door. "Harry, what do you say to Hagrid."
"Not 'spose to talk in the corner, Daddy," sniffled Harry from his spot in the corner.
"Harry, you may thank Hagrid for bringing us the wonderful tree."
Harry turned around. "Thanks, Hagrid." And then he turned back around to face the wall again.
Hagrid chuckled again. "Yer welcome, Harry." Turning back to Severus, he said, "Let me know if ya need anything else, Severus."
Severus nodded. "I will." With that, Hagrid left and Severus shut the door behind him. Waving his wand, all their Christmas tree decoration boxes flew out from storage and plopped down in front of the tree. With that, Severus took his spot in his favorite armchair and waited for his son's corner time to be over.
When the corner time hourglass ran out, Severus spoke, "Harry, your time is up. Please come over here." Harry turned around and sniffled. He raised an arm and went to wipe his nose with his sleeve. "Harry, you know better than to wipe your nose with your sleeve."
Harry lowered his sleeve and practically ran over to Severus's chair where he scrambled to sit on his lap. Fresh tears swelled in his eyes. "I'm really sorry, Daddy."
Severus held up his handkerchief up to Harry's nose and the little boy blew into it. He then wiped away through the tears. "It's alright, Harry. All is forgiven. Just listen to Daddy from now on."
Harry nodded into Severus's chest. "I will, Daddy." The two sat for a while, so Harry could calm down. As soon as the boy was calm, he jumped down from his father's lap.
"We gotta decorate the tree now!" Harry exclaimed and ran over to the box of decorations. Severus allowed himself a small grin, but he went over to help his son.
For the next hour, Severus and Harry managed to put the lights on and where now putting the ornaments on. Currently, Harry was finishing up putting the babbles on and was moving on to the other ornaments. Severus let Harry do most of the decorating, only helping with the higher branches.
Severus looked down and saw Harry pull out the old angel ornament that had been his mother's. "This was your mommy's, right Daddy?"
Severus nodded and gently took the ornament from Harry. "Yes it was. She got it when she was a small girl from her grandmother. I keep it so I remember her." He told the boy as he placed in on one of the top branches.
Harry then pulled out a small snowflake ornament. "Was this my mommy's?"
Severus smiled. "Yes, Harry. That was your mommy's. She gave it to me when we spent our first Christmas together when we were ten." Harry looked at the ornament in fascination before placing it on the tree. Now they were down to the last two ornaments in the box.
Severus softly smiled as he looked at the two glass ornaments left in the box. He had gotten these for Harry three years ago in memory of his birth parents. Even though Severus hated James Potter, he still believed that his son needed to know about the man. Severus knelt down and picked up the glass stag and handed it to Harry. Quietly, he asked, "Why do we put that one on the tree, Harry?"
Harry quietly looked the ornament. This one and its partner were Harry's favorite ornaments on the tree. Harry, very carefully, placed the stag on the tree. "This one's for my daddy in heaven. I have it so I can spend every Christmas with him."
Severus brushed Harry's fringe out of his eyes. "That's right, Harry." Reaching into the box, he pulled out a glass doe ornament. He carefully handed it to his son.
Harry held it very carefully in his hands for several moments before putting on the tree right next to. "This one's for Mommy. I put it next to Daddy's so that we can all be together on Christmas."
Harry leaned back against his father's chest. "I wish they were here, Daddy."
Severus ran a hand through the boy's hair. "So do I, Harry. But, we have each other. Remember that."
Harry nodded, but then suddenly bolted from the room. Startled, Severus made to stand, only to have Harry return a moment later. "Daddy, I just remembered! I have something to give you to put on the tree."
Harry excitedly thrust something into Severus's hand. Looking down, Severus actually smiled at what he saw. In his hands, he held a cut out ornament with a picture of himself and Harry. It was handrawn, so Severus knew his son had done it. The ornament was completed with a green and silver ribbon. "Gramma helped me cut the circle and put the string through." He took the ornament from Severus and placed it next to the stag and doe. "Now we can all be together on the tree as well."
Harry turned and smiled at his dad. All Severus could do was open his arms and hug his son. Oh Christmas tree, much pleasure do you bring me. No, it wasn't the tree that brought Severus happiness; Harry did. Harry had made all of his Christmases better since he came into his life and he had made this one even more special.
Hope you liked. Please review and return tomorrow!
