AUTHOR'S NOTES: To me Christmas is about two things—family and food. Family for obvious reasons, and food because a good meal just puts everyone into high spirits. As for the religious aspect, I consider myself an agnostic.

As for the food mentioned in this chapter, I have never had a real lobster roll and I admit that if I croaked right now that would be one of my real regrets. (I'm a foodie, what can I say?)

Read, review, and show your love!

Chapter 10

December came quickly and before Harry knew it, he was on the Hogwarts Express back to London and on his way to a warm, friendly Christmas vacation at the Burrow.

Casey Novak was spending two days at the Burrow as well before taking a muggle airplane flight back to New York for the remainder of the holiday.

On the train in their own compartment Harry had shifted himself from his wheelchair to the train seat next to Hermione who took his hand in hers. "It'll be nice to have some time away from Hogwarts," Hermione said, resting her head on Harry's shoulder. "I have to admit… even I've been feeling the strain this year."

"Hermione Granger is overworked?" Harry said with mock incredulity. "What next? I'm able to get up and walk?"

Hermione raised her head and looked up at her boyfriend with a morose expression. "Harry, I didn't mean…"

"I was joking, Hermione," Harry said, shrugging, before looking down at his immobile legs.

"Harry…" Hermione saw that he was starting to become withdrawn and she waited until he finally turned to look at her. "Harry… I know this has been hard on you. But I love you. Whether you can walk or not."

Harry pulled his girlfriend into a kiss and after a few wonderful minutes, he said, "You really don't mind if I'm in this wheelchair the rest of my life?"

Hermione smiled. "I love you, Harry. And if you can deal with this then I can certainly deal with this."

"Thanks," Harry added before he and Hermione resumed their kissing.

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The snow had started falling again when Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron finally got to King's Cross Station. Up on the platform, Sirius stood with Casey Novak and Tonks, all three of whom were dressed in muggle clothes.

As Harry rolled down the ramp set up by one of the exits, Sirius noticed that Hermione had a hand resting on the back of Harry's wheelchair. "Ready for Molly's cooking, Prongslet?" Sirius asked, jovially.

"Am I ever!" Harry replied, eagerly. "I'm starving!"

"Molly promised to prepare an authentic American meal," Casey said, looking cheerful.

"What? Pot roast?" Harry quipped, lightly.

"Come on," Tonks said, impatiently. "Let's go. I'm famished!"

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Molly Weasley was just pulling out a large casserole dish out of the oven when Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Sirius, Casey, and Tonks came in through the door. "Oh, good!" Molly said, bustling out of the kitchen. "I was starting to worry. How's the snow?"

"Sirius… had to carry me," Harry admitted, looking abashed. "My wheelchair couldn't get through the snow drifts."

"Well, come on in," Molly said, trying to tactfully change the subject as Harry seemed embarrassed by his disability. "I've got a fire going in the living room. Sirius… do you mind helping me finish supper?"

Sirius nodded and followed Molly to the kitchen and looked at the casserole sitting on the counter. "What's this?"

"Macaroni and cheese," Molly replied, opening the oven and pulling out a pan of… "It's cornbread," Molly explained. "I've also done barbequed ribs, homemade applesauce…"

"Casey mentioned you were doing an American meal," Sirius said, going to the refrigerator and pulling out a bowl of creamy lobster salad.

"That's for the lobster rolls," Molly said, smiling.

"Did you say lobster rolls?" Casey said, eagerly, as she came into the kitchen. "Molly, I really think I love you right now."

Chuckling, Molly turned to Casey. "I wrote to your friend, Detective Tutuola, for some of your favorite foods."

"Ribs, cornbread, mac and cheese, lobster rolls…" Casey's mouth was watering as she caught a whiff of the maple barbeque sauce simmering on the stove. It was sweet and smoky… "We better eat soon or I'm gonna just—"

"In a few minutes, dear," Molly said, looking at Sirius. "Why don't you put drinks out and then call everyone to eat?"

Once everyone was seated at the table—Arthur was working late with Bill and the twins were still in Diagon Alley at their flat—Molly dished out the food.

Following Casey's example, the others put heaping spoonfuls of the creamy lobster salad on the grilled buns and dug in, sampling the ribs, cornbread, macaroni and cheese and the applesauce.

"This is delicious," Harry said, chewing a bite of his lobster roll.

"There's this hole in the wall diner in Manhattan," Casey said, pulling the meat off a rib. "Best rolls outside of Maine. It's my… secret spot."

"What's for dessert?" Hermione asked, pushing her plate away a bit. She'd had a stuffed roll, a heaping scoop of the macaroni, 5 ribs, and a healthy slice of the cornbread.

Molly smiled. "Apple crisp pie. And vanilla ice cream."

"Keep cooking like this and I might not even bother going back to New York," Casey said, as the scents of apples and cinnamon wafted from the kitchen.

Once everyone was finished with dinner, Sirius helped Molly clear the table before bringing out the still warm pie and a container of ice cream which was flecked with actual vanilla bean pulp.

Even though he was full, Harry managed to make room for pie and ice cream.

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Manhattan, New York

SVU Precinct

"The professor returns!" Detective John Munch said, looking up from his desk and seeing Casey Novak walk into the squad room.

Olivia Benson looked up as well and gave a welcoming smile. "Hey. How's England?"

"Snowy," Casey replied, grinning. "How's it going here?"

"We're surviving," Munch replied, shrugging. "How's teaching?"

"I prefer prosecuting rapist and murderers to be honest," Casey replied, as she saw Stabler and Fin come into the room.

"You gotta be kiddin' me," Fin said, looking stunned. "Teaching is worse than dealing with this shit?"

"Come on, it can't be that bad," Olivia said, leaning back in her chair.

"I'm starting to get it. No recent lab explosions," Casey said as Stabler sat on the edge of Olivia's desk. "So… what's been happening around here?"

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The Burrow, England

Christmas Day

Harry was awoken by a pillow flung at him by Ron who was up and had already pulled a sweater over his pajamas. Reaching for his glasses, Harry asked, "What time is it?"

"8:45," Ron replied, watching Harry get situated in his wheelchair.

"I'm going to hit the bathroom. I'll meet you downstairs," Harry said, directing his chair towards the door.

Ron wanted to ask Harry if he needed help but figured that Harry would ask for help if he needed it.

Downstairs, the entire Weasley family—exempting Percy—along with Hermione and Sirius were gathered in the living room where a roaring fire was going steadily and a small mountain of presents was gathered under a beautiful Christmas tree.

Seeing Ron come into the room, Sirius asked, "Where's Harry?"

"He'll be down in a few moments," Ron said, sitting on the floor by the couch. "Merry Christmas, Mum."

"Sirius, where are you going?" Hermione asked, as she watched him get off the couch and head out of the rom.

"I'll be back in a moment," Sirius assured her. He headed upstairs and found Harry in his room pulling one of the sweaters Molly had made for him. "Harry, I've been thinking… and I can't help but think that there's something bothering you."

"It's nothing," Harry said, shrugging.

"Harry… talk to me."

Harry sighed. "I just keep wondering… why you didn't want me… to live with you."

Sirius sighed and sat down on Harry's bed. "When you were born… there was a compromise between James and Lily. I would be named your godfather… but… Molly Weasley would be made your legal guardian."

"What?" Harry was stunned by this. "Why wouldn't Mum want me living with you?"

"Because of the fact that I was always the most irresponsible of the Marauders," Sirius replied. "Lily wanted you to live with… with Moony, but… as a werewolf…"

"And she didn't trust Pettigrew?" Harry added.

"Exactly. Molly agreed… that's why she's always been…"

"Like a second mother," Harry whispered.

"I'd love for you to live with me, Harry," Sirius said, looking Harry in the eye. "But…"

"It's okay, Sirius," Harry replied, nodding. "It's what Mum wanted. I just thought…"

"That it was because of the wheelchair?" Sirius shook his head. "Some nights… when I was in Azkaban… the only thing that got me through was thinking about you. Knowing that you were out there and that some day I'd get a chance to have a life with you… and Moony… I'd be dead by now if I didn't have the idea of you to hold on to." Standing up and looking at Harry, Sirius grinned. "Now… there's a huge pile of presents downstairs and I'm eager to rip into them. What do you say, Prongslet?"

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