Pyrotechnics
Part Nine
Thanksgiving

Author's Note:

THIS IS SLASH! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, and the Lugovalos just as well not belong to me since they use me only as a medium to do whatever they want.

Special thanks to my reviewers! I currently have just shy of 50 reviews, and I'm very pleased since this story has so many OC's! I sound like such a review monger, but it makes me so happy since Phyrrus doesn't really exist. I will confess I was trying to create one of those stories that have OC characters and over a few hundred reviews, but I shouldn't be such a monger, ne? And, like I said, I'll never hold back a chapter for not getting reviews. That's not fair for you or for me. So, I promise I will never do that.

Anyway, I still thank all of you who've been reading!

I'd also like to ask for constructive critism. Just because I have finished the story (This still isn't the last chapter, there are several more to go) I'd still love to have you opinions! I know I'm not a professional writer (yet) but I strive to make my writing as professional as I can. Your reviews help a lot! Thank you all so much!

Well, a fairly long note, but I hope it was worth the wait!
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Harry stretched and yawned, frowning when he remembered what day it was. It was the end of November and Phyrrus, River, and Rayne were headed to America for a week to celebrate Thanksgiving with their family. The American holiday was a strange concept to most of the wizarding world, but Harry was more upset that Phyrrus was leaving for a week. While Harry could function without his boyfriend (though sleep might be an issue) he would miss Phyrrus terribly.

"I'll be back before you know it," Phyrrus threw a small bag over one shoulder. "Don't worry so much, okay? We'll be safe. Nothing can get us across the ocean, and everyone knows that intercepting a port key is aobut the dumbest thing you can do."

"I'll miss you," Harry told him, frowning.

"Mom said after you meet parts of the family this summer you can go next year," Phyrrus leaned down to press a kiss to Harry's lips. "I promise."

"If you promise," Harry agreed, kissing back. Phyrrus deepened the kiss, tongue sweeping Harry's mouth and hot pressure building. They pulled away, panting, and Phyrrus smiled.

"I love you Harry."

"Love you too," Harry managed a smile and Phyrrus pressed another kiss to Harry's lips before collecting his sisters and putting a hand to the port-key. Phyrrus blew Harry one last kiss, and they whirled away. Harry smiled and shook his head. They'd be fine, he knew that. Turning to Ron and Hermione, he grinned.

"Looks like it's just us this week," Harry tucked an arm through Hermione's. "What do you want to do?"

"I have this huge paper to write. . . " Hermione began, but sighed. "Oh, I don't know. I'm just glad I we get to have you to ourselves for a bit."

"I really don't mean to neglect you. You should let me know." Harry scolded. "Phyrrus won't be hurt, you are my best friends, after all. And River and Rayne don't tell me when your upset. I asked them too, though."

Hermione and Ron laughed at that. "You would," Ron teased. Then he glanced at the clock across the room and allowed a curse to pass his lips. Hermione and Harry both gave the clock equally horrified looks, grabbed their bags and sprinted from the tower. They were so late!
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"Where's your boyfriend, Potty? Get tired of you already? Drop you for a prettier boy?" Draco's smirking voice made Harry want to scream.

"What is is with everyone asking me where Phyrrus is?" Harry demanded, whirling on Draco. "It's not like we're joined at the hip."

"More like the lips," He heard Ron mutter, and Harry glared.

"Phyrrus is in the States for Thanksgiving," Harry snapped. "Would you go away, you stupid fuck? I was enjoying Ron's and Hermione's company. You, I don't enjoy yours."

"So Potty thinks he can boss me around?" Draco snorted. "You're nothing without that pyro around."

Harry shrugged and flicked his wand sending a jet of flame at the blond boy. "You think you're something special, you shit?" Harry smirked. "That pyro, as you called him, has taught me a lot. You want to find out?"

Draco looked at the scorch mark on the wall and growled, grabbing his wand. Calling out several spells in rapid sucession, he watched as Harry blocked them with a shield and frowned. Harry was stronger than he had anticipated, and Granger, Weasel, and the pyro had obviously been teaching him. "You want to see something the little twins taught me?" Harry smirked. "Onis ventus!" The air around Draco began to spin, lifting the teen off the ground in a whirl wind.

"Hope you like it up there," Harry called, walking away. He smiled at Ron and Hermione, who were laughing. The spell would not hurt Draco, it would simply spin him for about two minutes and set him back on the ground. A prank the little twins enjoyed. Harry smiled at his best friends and grabbed their hands, dragging them down the hall.

"That was fun. We should do that more often. You want to go see Sirius and Remus?"

"Sure," Ron shrugged. "Not like there's much to do around here but study."

"This is a school, Ron," Hermione told him flatly. "You're supposed to study."

"Not all the time," Ron argued. "We've got to have fun too!"

Harry laughed and shook his head, dragging them down the hall towards the Defense room. They knock softly on the door, the full moon had been the night before and Remus was surely feeling the after effects. Sirius pulled it open, smiling at the trio. "Hey, I didn't expect you. Come to pay respects for Remus?"

"How's he doing?"

Sirius shrugged. "Looks like a walking corpse, like always."

"Fuck you!" They heard Remus shout from the couch, and the three teens stared into the room, mouths agape. Remus was never so. . . mouthy. In fact, Harry wasn't sure if he'd ever heard the man curse.

"He's in a bad mood." Sirius grinned. Remus appeared, faster than Harry could follow, and leapt on his mate, screaming incoherently. Sirius raised an eyebrow and gesutred to the teens, and Remus smiled at them before offering Sirius a feral look. Harry blinked.

"I don't think he's happy with you, Sirius," Harry commented, frowning.

"Of course I'm not happy," Remus growled. "He took my fucking chocolate and my fucking tea."

"I told you, Remmy, the chocolate is bad for you right now and the tea is giving you headaches. Baby, I'm just trying to take care of you." Sirius tried to soothe, but Remus was having none of it. Flouncing off he curled back up on the couch and Sirius rolled his eyes.

"He can be such a baby," Sirius muttered, earning a pillow thrown at his head and Remus shouting to him about sleeping on the couch. Sirius sighed and shook his head. Harry smiled slightly.

"I guess this isn't a good time," Harry laughed slightly. "We'll come back."

"Thanks, Prongslet," Sirius groaned, turning into the room. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

The three teens slipped out and Harry burst into laughter as soon as the door was shut, Hermione close behind. "Sirius is so whipped," She giggled, and Ron nodded, snorting.

"Damn," Ron laughed. "That's halirious."

"I wish I had a video of that," Harry managed though his laughter. "Post it around the school!"

"Before or after Remus kills you violently?" Ron asked, still chuckling. Hermione nodded in agreement, and Harry wrinkled his nose, continuing down the hall.

"Remus wouldn't do that. He loves me," Harry joked. "Sirius, on the other hand. . . "

"Yeah, you'd be screwed," Ron laughed, and Harry nearly fell over from laughing to hard. Oh boy, was that rich!
oOooOo

Sirius walked back into the room after Harry and his friends left, lifting Remus onto his lap. "I want my chocolate and my tea," Remus informed Sirius. "So tell me again why you had to take both away?"

"Chocolate is bad for you when the wolf is dominate, Remus. You know that. And you also know that the tea gives you terrible headaches the day after you transform! You know better, Remmy. I won't have you hurting yourself. You can have tea when we get some herbal stuff."

Remus scowled at Sirius, shaking his head. "I was doing just fine while you were in Azkaban! What makes you think I can't do fine now?"

"I'm here to take care of you, Remmy. It doesn't matter what you did while I was away, you didn't take care of yourself. I'm your mate, Remmy. I watch out for you." Sirius crossed his arms.

Remus sniffed, shaking his head and buried his face in his hands. "I'm sorry, Siri!" He cried, throwing himself at his mate. "I love you, I really do."

Sirius blinked, cuddling Remus close. "I know you do," Sirius replied, kissing his mate gently. "And I love you." Remus leaned into the next kiss, allowing Sirius to deepen it, tongues playing sensually as they battled for dominance. Sirius won, swiftly lifting up his mate and carrying him to their bed room, laying Remus gently onto the bed. The smaller man started to purr, nuzzling Sirius as the man continued to kiss him, and Remus smiled up at his mate.

"You always know what I need," Remus admitted, shifting slightly so they were in a more comfortable position. His voice was breathless, as though Sirius had stolen it away, and Sirius smiled, leaning to Remus' lips again.

If Harry returned, they never knew.
oOooOo

Harry yawned and stumbled into the Great Hall for breakfast that Saturday. "Four more days until Phyrrus gets back. . . four more days until Phyrrus gets back. . ."

Ron laughed, smacking Harry. "What was all that about not being joined at the hip?" He asked, grinning.

Harry offered him the middle finger--cursing was one of the many habits he'd picked up from his boyfriend, and plopped down at the table. "I just wonder what he's doing."

"Probably being stupid. You know how he is without you around, and he did say that his cousin was there. Are you staying for Chirstmas, Ron?"

"Huh?" The red head blinked. "Um. . . I don't know. Harry?"

"Not a chance! Sirius and Remus finally got the house fixed up, and Mum Chara is insisting we visit. But I have a feeling she's roped your family into something too." Harry rolled his eyes. "Phyrrus has been whining about it for a month."

"He would. Are they staying in England for Chistmas?"

"Yeah. Phyrrus said that they have family Christmas the week before Christmas, but I'm not going this year. His favorite uncle and cousin, his mom's mom, and his dad's mom are all coming to spend Christmas here, though." Harry shrugged.

"What are you doing for Christmas, then?"

"I've still got to buy gifts--got just a few left, and Sirius and Remus and I are going to go someplace for a little bit, and then we're going to help entertain the Americans." Harry smirked. "What about you two?"

"Family. What else?" Ron rolled his eyes. "I've got a million cousins, I swear."

"Family," Hermione agreed. "We always do something at Christmas, it's the only time we're really able to get together."

Harry nodded sagely. "I'm having Christmas this year!" He grinned and threw his arms around his friends. "I'm so excited."

"We noticed," Hermione answered dryly, shoving him off and laughing. "Eat your breakfast."

Harry stuck out his tongue and shoved toast in his mouth, pouting. Hermione was no fun. Ron had returned to inhaling his food, and Harry admited to himself that he'd catch up with Phyrrus soon at the rate he was growing. Hermione glanced at the clock, muttered some border-line curses and grabbed her bag. Ron and Harry repeated her gesutre, spewed some actual curses, and followed her from the Great Hall. Harry was so going to be late for pratice.
oOooOo

Harry put aside his homework and laid on the couch, eyes slowly drifting shut. Phyrrus was supposed to get back soon, but Harry was so tired. . .

Hands slipped over his eyes and he could feel someone's hot breath on his ear. "Did you miss me?" Phyrrus' deep voice made Harry's tense shoulders relax, and he nodded frantically. Phyrrus leapt the back of the couch, twisting to pull Harry on top of him, and kissed the other deeply.

Harry sank into the heat of his boyfriend, moaning softly as Phyrrus' large hands rubbed his back. They stayed on top of his shirt, but Harry could still feel it, and his hands clutched Phyrrus' shirt. "I missed you so much," Harry breathed, kissing Phyrrus again. Phyrrus smiled and nuzzled the other's neck, making Harry giggle and pull away. "Cut that out! I haven't seen you in a week and you're hell bent on torturing me?"

"Mm hmm," Phyrrus smiled, pressing kisses to Harry's face and neck. "I missed you."

Harry sighed, resting his head on Phyrrus' chest, nodding into his shirt. Calloused hands brushed Harry's cheeks, and Harry blinked. He had forgotten just how much farm work roughened Phyrrus' hands. "How are you?" Phyrrus kissed Harry again, as though to punctuate his words. "I missed you so much."

"I'm fine," Harry smiled. "Had a run it with Malfoy. Used that tornado spell the twins gave me."

"Bet he liked that," Phyrrus pulled Harry up to seal his lips in a kiss, and Harry groaned, leaning into the invading heat and readily opening his mouth. Their tongues battled for a moment, then Phyrrus started mapping the inside of Harry's mouth gently, lapping and nipping at whatever he could reach. Harry rubbed their tongues together, making Phyrrus moan into Harry's mouth, and rough hands gently slip under Harry's shirt. Harry arched into the touch, and they both got a jolt when they realized just what was pressing together.

Harry went to jerk back, but although Phyrrus stopped kissing him, and halted any sexual advance, he didn't let go of the other. "I'm sorry, Harry," Phyrrus panted. "I didn't mean to. . ."

"Partly my fault." Harry was just as breathless. "I. . . um. . . did it first."

Phyrrus smiled and pressed and kiss to Harry's forehead, nuzzling Harry's messy black locks. "We'll just have to be more careful." Phyrrus laughed.

Harry nodded. "I'm only thirteen. I don't want to. . ."

"I don't either. I'm not ready. We're not ready." Phyrrus agreed. "Don't worry about it. Accidents happen. I'm just glad you have more sense than I do."

Harry gave his boyfriend a baleful look. "Of course I do. We've already established that."

"You!" Phyrrus began to mercilessly tickle the other, and Harry burst into laughter, squirming away.

"Arudo!" Harry screamed, shoving at Phyrrus' hands. "Stop it!" Phyrrus got a look but quit tickling Harry. Then he leaned down and started kissing the other instead. Instead of the intense heavy kisses they had shared earlier, these were light, pecks rather than something more. Phyrrus was making the small kissing noises to go with them, and Harry shoved at Phyrrus, still laughing.

"Cut that out!" Harry protested. Phyrrus ignored his boyfriend, and Harry started laughing again, then smirked and began to tickle back.

There was one catch. Phyrrus, while a great deal of things, was not ticklish. Phyrrus grinned. "You should know that won't work."

"Shut up," Harry pouted. "Don't destroy my last hope."

Phyrrus stuck out his tongue and Harry tilted his head. "So. . . would rictimsurpra work on you?"

"No. You have to be ticklish for a tickle spell to work. Since I'm not. . . well. . . it doesn't do anything." Phyrrus chuckled. "You should put it on the little twins sometimes. That's funny."

"Arudo, ticklish doesn't even begin to cover those two."

"I know. Isn't it great?" Phyrrus grinned. If anyone so much as poked one of the little twins, they'd start laughing. Harry made a face and curled up against Phyrrus, head on Phyrrus' chest, ear over the other's heart.

"I'm so glad you're back," Harry murmured, tightening his grip on the other. "I really did miss you. I love you."

"I missed you too, baby. And I love you." Phyrrus pressed a kiss to Harry's scar and smiled. "But I'm back now, okay?"

Harry nodded, and Phyrrus smiled, leaning back and looked at the smaller teen. It was good to be home.
oOooOo

Hermione found the two in the morning, curled up on the common room couch, and rolled her eyes. "You two are going to be late!" She sing-songed, making Phyrrus sit up with a gasp and grab Harry in a protective embrace. Harry snuggled closer.

"Go away, 'Mione. I'm sleeping."

"River and Rayne are coming. You won't be soon," Hermione smirked and watched the little twins flounce down the stairs. The two troublemakers--and they were troublemakers--smiled blankly.

River raised her wand, but Phyrrus gave her a dity look. "Don't even think about it, princess," He snarled. Harry blinked. Phyrrus didn't normally snap at his sisters. They were so sensitive to other's feelings that it usually made them cry. Rayne made her way to Harry, smiling.

"It's okay. He's cranky," Rayne giggled. "Empty anger. It doesn't hurt."

Harry stared at the girl. The twins had a tendancy to be creepy, finishing each other's sentences and talking in their own little secret language, but when they started reading minds--figuratively, of course since they didn't actually have telepathy--Harry really freaked out. Rayne obviously felt it, and smiled, and Harry drew the little girl into a hug. The seven year old snuggled into him, then wrinkled her nose.

"You smell like smoke from the fire," The girl whined. "You two need to bathe."

"I've been telling him that for years now," Hermione sighed, appearing exasperated. "He never listens."

"Ew!" River and Rayne choursed. "That's gross!"

Phyrrus raised an eyebrow. "I can tell where I'm not wanted," He snorted, lifting Harry up. "We'll see you three later. After we shower."

"Just not together!" Hermione yelled after them, and Phyrrus looked ready to spontainiously combust. Harry, of course, looked no better, but it was difficult to get Phyrrus to blush. His mother had no sense of decency, and the twins. . . well, they had no sense of anything, so blushing was not a normal color on the red-head.

Harry snickered. Today was going to be a good day.
oOooOo

Exams were coming. They were close enough to put nearly everyone into fits of studying, including Ron and Harry, except for Phyrrus and the little twins. "Why aren't you panicking?" Harry demanded, burying his nose in his Defense Against the Dark Arts book. "If you do badly, your mum'll kill you!"

"Harry, exams aren't weighted that much," Phyrrus yawned lazily. "Besides, I know it all."

Hermione offered him a flat look. "What?"

Phyrrus sighed. "So I have over average intelligence and excellent recall. I know it all, I just need a small refresher. The twins, well, they know everything anyway. But we don't have to study to keep our grades because we have the recall."

Hermione glared. "That's not fair."

"It is in a way. I have to study harder to remember it the first time because I can't place it in short term memory. So while you do your homework to get it down, I have to do mine to get it completely memorized. Which, while having its uses, is not a happy thing."

"But you're magically weak! Don't you have to pratice?" Hermione wailed.

Phyrrus stiffened. "I am not magically weak. I am above average, just not as much as Harry. It is the twins that have difficulty with magical power, thank you. Ron and I may not be as strong as some people, but we are my no means magically weak. And I assure you, Hermione, we are more powerful than you."

"Stop it you two," Harry broke in. "Don't fight. I hate it when you fight. Hermione's just stressed, and you aren't helping because she thinks you're being lazy, okay arudo?"

"I'm sorry, Hermione. It's just that. . . to be constantly reminded that your power doesn't have the ability to match what your mind can do. . . it's frusterating. The twins are too young to understand that yet."

"Ah." Hermione nodded. "So. . . it'll be like that for me too?"

"Not yet," Phyrrus plopped down. "Mom said that until we reach spells that aren't taught in school, no one should have difficulties. But I'm such a pyro that I've already been expirimenting--with my mother around!--and while your power will grow, it's a long process. And here they don't challenge your power. You have been, I can tell it's grown, but. . . the rest of the school. . . its likely they be forced to stay at a constant."

"Oh." Hermione mused. "Interesting."

"Yeah," Phyrrus shrugged. "I can bring you some of the stuff Mom's got on the subject, if you'd like. She's interested in it. It's really complicated, which is why it's so hard to base average power, physical duress, and intelligence. 'Cause, you know, it all changes over time."

Hermione nodded absently, and Phyrrus made a mental note to shove some of the literature into his bag. Hopefully Hermione would be able to understand it better that he could. The she buried her nose in her book. "Here," Phyrrus stole her book, and set it aside with Harry's and Ron's. I'll quiz you. Then I have to go make sure the twins know their stuff."

"Shouldn't they know it?"

"The twins might know a lot, but getting the explanation from their mind to the paper is difficult," Phyrrus sighed. "Trust me, if I don't quiz them they'll do badly because they know a lot more than anyone should ever know on any given subject. Teachers those two are not."

"All right," Hermione agreed reluctantly, and Phyrrus smiled, cracking the book.

"What was the goblin rebellion in 1645?" Phyrrus asked, and the trio groaned. Goblin rebellions. Ugh.
oOooOo

Exams ran fairly smoothly that year, and Harry was happy to discover that since Phyrrus quizzed them that his grades had gotten a lot better. "Mom used to do it for me," Phyrrus grinned. "This gave me the review I needed, and the one you needed."

Harry nodded, grinning. "I'm just glad I did well. Exams are always terrible. And now Hermione's going to want to revise again!"

"Absolutely not," Phyrrus stated with absolute certainty. "It's over and done with and I can do nothing more for my grade. Now come on, we're going to go play in the snow, have some lunch, then pack to go home."

Harry and Ron were more than happy to drag Hermione away from her papers, and Phyrrus--as was his habit--threatened to set them on fire. Hermione was finally torn away from them at that announcement, she liked her notes, and Phyrrus rolled his eyes, easily dodging the slap she sent towards him.

The four had fun playing in the snow, and the little twins joined later, making it even better. Laughing, Harry flopped down to make a snow angel, and Phyrrus tackled Ron. The two boys wrestled for a bit, giving up when they were both soaked and Phyrrus had clearly won. Harry tackled Phyrrus after that, and soon it turned into an all-out war. The twins were allowed to be on a team since they were so little, but other than that it was every man for himself.

A feeling of being watched made Phyrrus look up. The red head smiled, seeing Draco Malfoy watch with a look of longing on his face. "Come on, Malfoy!" Phyrrus called, and the teen looked up, clearly taken aback.

He glanced at that others, laughing and breathless, then back to Phyrrus, who was smiling and gesturing for Draco to join in the fun. The teen hesitated, anxiously chewing his lip. He had obviously never been invited to do something before, had been expected to insitigate it. Rayne and River finally got fed up with his indescision and Rayne grabbed his hand, dragging him over while River pegged him with a snowball.

"You know that means war, right?" Phyrrus asked a stunned looking Malfoy. The blond smirked.

"You're right, it does." And River promptly got shoved into a snowbank. River whined as the others laughed, Phyrrus finally pulling her out and hitting Harry with a snowball in the same movement. Harry retaliated but missed, hitting Draco, and then the war was on.

They trooped inside, laughing, and split up at the entrance to the Great Hall, soaked but in high spirits. Supper was the best they'd ever tasted--they'd skipped lunch in favor of the snowball fight--and the hot chocolate they'd managed to convince Dobby to bring them made the day complete. Draco made his way back over to their table, and Phyrrus got another mug of hot chocolate, inviting him to sit. Since the Great Hall was cleared out anyway, Draco did so, looking uncomfortable.

"Why did you invite me to join you?" Draco asked, refusing to look at any of them. "I'm your enemy."

"You were alone," Phyrrus replied, shrugging. "And you looked lonely. Besides, we don't have to be enemies."

"My father wouldn't like--"

"Is that all you'll ever be?" Phyrrus inturrupted. "Your father's lapdog? Malfoy, you have to make your own descisions, and you have to take control of your life. If your father truely loves you, he'll understand."

Malfoy shook his head, sighed, and wrapped his hands around his mug. "What if he doesn't?"

"I don't know," Phyrrus admitted. "But you are not your father, and he shouldn't expect you to be."

Draco nodded, finishing his hot chocolate, and leaving the hall. Harry didn't say anything for several seconds, chewing his lip. "Why?" Harry finally asked, leaning into Phyrrus' warmth.

"He's lonely, and you can never have too many friends. But he won't replace you, baby, I promise," Phyrrus smiled. "Come on, Harry. Ready to pack?"

"Yeah."

Phyrrus gave Harry a chocolatety kiss, and the group left to get showers and pack. Harry smiled. Today was a good day.
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