Lily's Son
Chapter 21
First Magical Christmas
To say Hogwarts looked like something out of a fairytale would be putting it mildly. The snow covered every inch of the beautiful castle, icicles hung all around the towers and roofs of the school. It was a breath taking experience to stand beside the frozen over lake and look at it. The four first years who were staying there along with a few others were currently gazing at it in wonder.
"When is Sirius coming?" asked Hermione kindly.
"Around dinner time" said Harry, none of them had opened their presents yet. They were waiting for Sirius coming; the presents were currently all under Slytherin common room Christmas tree. Hermione had taken hers there because there wasn't anyone in Ravenclaw tower. With Flitwick's permission she was allowed to remain down in Slytherin common room. Neville too had gotten similar permission from Sprout, it helped that he was her favourite pupil.
"Is he going to be there for dinner or after?" asked Draco curiously.
"During" smiled Harry.
"Do you think everyone's opened our percents yet?" asked Neville curiously.
"Probably" shrugged Hermione, she had given her parent's pictures of Hogwarts, her mother a nice pendant and her father she had gotten a book about Wizarding history and politics.
"I know Dudley and Vernon will like mine" grinned Harry. He had given them a potion that helped them loose weight, not only that but helped their skin to go back to its normal condition. No flabby skin for them that was for sure. Although Dudley didn't know about it, so Harry had just given him money to buy a computer game. Petunia he had given a pendant with a Lily on it. He had never given them anything before so had been really unsure on what to do. Vernon had gotten a very rare bottle of whiskey from Harry, boy he had, had a hard time buying it. Thankfully they had believed him when he said it was a present and he was Harry Potter and had given in almost right away. Harry Potter everyone knew couldn't do any wrong.
Neville had gotten his Gran a bottle of perfume and a nice new matching handbag and purse.
Draco had gotten his mother a beautiful diamond pendant and his father got a new snake cane.
"Let's head back it's getting chilly" sighed Hermione.
"Yeah" said Harry agreeing completely, jamming his Slytherin hat on further over his ears.
"Mr. Potter" said Severus coming towards them.
"Hello sir, Merry Christmas" grinned Harry.
"Thank you for the present but surely its highly inappropriate" said Severus smoothly; Harry didn't see Severus giving him it back and grinned the man obviously didn't want to.
"Don't the other Slytherin's give something to their head of house?" asked Harry genuinely shocked.
"We are teachers Mr. Potter nothing more" said Severus an eyebrow rose in amusement.
"Oh, well if it makes you uncomfortable I shan't do it again" shrugged Harry looking rather uncomfortable himself now.
"Where are you off too?" asked Severus looking critically over his four students.
"Down to the common room, to sit by the fire we are cold! We took Hedwig out for a fly" said Harry as way of explaining.
"I see, very well I shall come down for you when it's time for dinner" said Severus nodding curtly before going in the other direction.
"You got him the potion ingredients after all?" asked Neville.
"Yes, phoenix feathers, snake scales, venom and also phoenix tears. They didn't have basilisk parts so I got the next best things that were rare enough for him to appreciate" said Harry. As the four of them strolled into the common room and put pillows down and just as they said sat around the fire. Heath jumped on Hermione's lap and curled up and promptly fell asleep purring as Hermione stroked his ears.
He had gotten very big in the time he had been in Hogwarts, usually spent his day hunting rats. The Slytherin's loved him, but Heath knew who his master was and always went to him. He also slept beside him as well; Harry would always find him curled up in his bed in the morning.
"I got Severus new dragon hide gloves and boots" said Draco as they started warming up.
"The ones he uses in the classroom are rather worn" nodded Harry.
"He's not going to use his good ones in class…he keeps them in his private lab" said Draco.
"Oh, well that makes sense" nodded Harry.
"Oh I want to open my presents!" groaned Hermione looking longingly at them.
"Go ahead!" grinned Harry.
So she did, no one else did but Hermione was desperate to see what she had gotten. Her parents gave her money, more stationary, sugar free candies and sweets, toothpaste, tooth brush and floss. Hermione just looked amused, before putting her three hundred pounds into her purse. They all knew what she would buy with it - so did her parents! Come to that - Books.
Neville had gotten her a book on advanced Herbology they didn't have in Hogwarts. She had squealed and hugged him for half an hour straight, Neville had gone bright red and stuttering that it was ok.
Draco had gotten her, her own books on Occlumency and Legillemency the way she wanted to do it. A collection of chocolates and a new shelf for her side of her room.
The room had undergone major changes, there was a nice lab set up in one corner. A corner for plants - Neville spent a lot of time tending to them; they were climbing around the room now. Harry's side was full of posters, and rows of books a few other trinkets here and there. Hermione had her side full of books, a squishy armchair and other things. Draco's corner was a mess compared to theirs, unless Dobby had been in cleaning it of course.
Harry had gotten her a better cauldron, not one used for classes, a set of nice crystal vials. A book on potions and her favourite subject charms, and also a beautiful pendant with a doe on it. It had been next to the Lily pendant and he had been unable to resist.
He got a few other things from the girls who roomed with her, nothing extravagant like the others just some chocolates.
"It's time for dinner, come" said Severus softly, coming into the common room seeing the children where they said they would be.
"Coming uncle Sev" said Draco for them all, and that said they scampered off following their professor's long strides. Giving each other amused looks all the way there.
"Sirius! It's good to see you" grinned Harry happily sliding into a seat next to him, his friends followed suit.
"You as well" said Sirius. He had indeed went to Severus and asked him to brew potions for him. He had given the man five hundred galleons for it too, well worth it because he looked ten times better than he had looked during the trial. He had also been in touch with Harry, writing back and forth and Sirius got the full picture with Dumbledore needless to say Sirius wasn't happy with the old man.
"Sirius how is your Christmas so far?" asked Dumbledore sitting down. Instead of the tables for each house there was just a round one. It reminded Hermione of the tales of Arthur and the round table when she had sat down. For men to all be equal they must first all be equal Arthur had said, in the legends.
"Very well" said Sirius curtly.
"I would like to speak with you before you leave if you please" said Dumbledore joyfully.
"Very well" said Sirius, gravely.
"You look much better" said Harry stopping Dumbledore for annoying them anymore.
"I have your head of house to thank for that" said Sirius.
"He is the best Potions Master around! Did you know he is the youngest one too?" asked Hermione her voice was low but Severus heard her none the less and was shocked at how respectful she sounded. He made sure no one knew he was listening; it was a trait he had picked up as spy.
"No I didn't," said Sirius sounding amused.
"Where are you staying?" asked Draco.
"In my flat I had before I got send down" said Sirius.
"Is it safe?" asked Neville.
"Safe enough" nodded Sirius.
"Good, I don't want anything happening to you" said Harry.
"Nothing will you can count on that, I've lost too much time with you I just want to get to know my godson" said Sirius, he noticed Harry was uncomfortable and reined in his emotions.
It was mostly silent as they ate their dinner; it was the proper thing after all. No one should speak when eating, or at least Draco had insisted, seeing them all eating without speaking he realized it must be true. They spoke some more while waiting for pudding, but it didn't take long.
"Let's go, I want to open my presents!" grinned Harry happily finishing off his pudding chocolate log.
"Are you sure you ate enough?" asked Sirius concerned, compared to his friends Harry hadn't eaten a lot. He was still getting used to eating whenever he wanted after being starved for so long.
"Yup! I had a big lunch" said Harry in his way of explaining.
Sirius bought it and everyone went down to Slytherin common room. Sirius looked decidedly uncomfortable for a few minutes but quickly got over it. Heath bound over to Sirius, and he started petting the animal wondering which one it belonged too.
"What's its name?" asked Sirius, stroking the beautiful black haired amber eyed cat.
"Heath," grinned Harry "He's mine, gorgeous isn't he?"
"You are only allowed one pet" said Sirius amused, he didn't sound condescending so Harry told him the truth.
"I couldn't decide if anyone asks ill just tell them he's Hermione's" smirked Harry.
Sirius just smirked in amusement.
"I got you all a present" said Sirius unshrinking them and passing them around. They were all wrapped in a blue colour, with moving Christmas trees.
"Thank you" exclaimed the four of them.
Hermione found two books, written by Rachel Ravenclaw a descendant from the famous Rowena Ravenclaw. On defensive magic, and theory about wandless magic.
Neville found two baby plants waiting on him, ones he didn't have and he loved them. He of course already knew what they were which surprised Sirius they weren't well known. His grandmother had gave him money, new clothes, a pendant she told him used to be his fathers, along with his Auror badge declaring him old enough for them. A few seeds which he had declared were rare and she wanted to know what they were a surprise for him when they finally grew she said.
Draco found a green winter cloak very expensive from Gladrags Wizardwear. Also some chocolates, Harry had obviously told Sirius a lot about his friends if he knew what they liked. He got clothes and a brand new broom from his parents along with a lot of other trinkets. Severus had given his godson a potion book for sixth years and ingredients to go with it for every potion available also a new potions kit. Very different from the ones they used in school.
Harry got a pendant with a doe and a stag attached to it, apparently they represented his parents. Harry smiled his thanks; he was also told that Sirius had put additional spells on it - one that would tell him when Dark Wizard's were near when it heated up. Three books on Defence, charms and transfiguration respectively, chocolates and also some more wizarding clothes.
The others finally dug into their own presents, Harry found out Dumbledore had given him his fathers invisibility cloak. Sirius recognized Dumbledore's handwriting immediately. He had been a part of the Order and knew very well what the man's writing was like.
Petunia gave Harry pictures of Lily in a nice new shiny green photo album. Harry had been ecstatic, there were lots of Lily and Petunia together, and she also gave him money to spend on some wizarding things. Petunia had written also and said she had some pictures of Lily hanging up, for him to look at when he got home. She had even put one in his room, and he had beamed in happiness with that. He put his money in his newly acquired Muggle wallet with his name on it another gift from his Uncle. At the very end of the book he found pictures of himself when he was younger that had him confused. He had black hair in them, and in all honesty he looked like his father. Yet in the next year he had red hair, most pictures were actually from his school photos. Petunia must have paid for them to avoid suspicion or had wanted them. Or she had went to the school and got them while he was at school. Dudley had gotten him a Muggle pocket knife, Neville and Draco seemed to love it.
From Draco he got a pair of dragon hide gloves and shoes. Two books on Occlumency like Hermione and chocolates and a couple of Dark detectors.
Neville had gotten him a better album full of pictures of his parents, personalized. Neville said he couldn't have picked anything else better seeing how he liked the other few pictures. Two books one for defence and the other for charms. He had also gotten Harry a small plant an Aloe Vera plant that had magical properties. It would heal better than any healing potion he had said. Unlike the Muggle one the healing properties were much more potent.
His potions master had gotten him something in return it seemed, a potions book. Potions through the ages, and a small journal - Severus Snape it seemed had noticed Harry writing down everything Severus said during class. Harry had smiled softly at that, it was a thoughtful gift and he would use it. All potions he made he wrote down everything, scribbling down the margins in how to make it better. He had no idea he was following Severus' lead in that way. Severus had done the same thing when he was younger 'property of the half blood prince' only Harry was the half blood Potter but it didn't have the same ring to it.
Harry frowned upon seeing a very lumpy parcel. Opening it he found a knitted jumper with an H on it, some weird looking fudge and other nick knacks. Opening the letter up his jaw dropped in astonishment.
"What is it Harry?" asked Sirius coming around and reading the letter. The other children quickly followed suit curious as well.
"Unbelievable!" scoffed Draco wide eyed.
"I didn't know you had befriended the Weasley's" said Sirius quite shocked.
"I haven't, Dumbledore gave them my money…I found out when I claimed my vaults…probably had to pay it back too…why would they send me this? And what's with them thinking I'll be staying with them?" sneered Harry angry at the assumption.
Dearest Harry
Enclosed you will find a customary Weasley jumper and a few other sweets! Professor Dumbledore assures me you have a sweet tooth! We look forward to seeing you. We will collect you from the train for the summer holidays; you will be rooming with our Ron. I do hope you do get on at some point even if you are a Slytherin.
Molly Weasley
"You aren't going with her for the summer! You are coming with me" protested Sirius angrily more about the fact that Harry had his money stolen by Dumbledore and the fact Molly was assuming Harry was going to the Weasley's rather than anything else.
"Dumbledore's doing no doubt" sighed Neville; Dumbledore never stopped trying to manipulate Harry what's up with that.
"Why is Dumbledore always manipulating Harry?" asked Neville agitated.
Sirius looked very uncomfortable as if he had an idea.
Harry glared at him "Well?" asked Harry his green eyes boring into Sirius' blue ones.
Will Sirius tell Harry about the prophecy gain his total trust? or just tell him about it not what it entails telling harry he will tell him when he's older? will this make their efforts to train even more urgent? will sirius tell them about the spy and harry figure out for himself who told voldemort the first half? how will harry react when he does find out? or will he only find out when dumbledore tells him looking for trouble to cause between severus and harry? will dumbledore portkey harry to the weasleys? before he can say anything about it? will harry have a portkey of his own to get away? where will harry and the others go for the summer hols? will they spend a few weeks at each of their friends homes? Hermiones then Harrys then Nevilles then Draco's? then maybe even black's home? getting training at both purebloods families? the other half having fun in the muggle world like normal children? arcades? amusement places? shows? bike riding? playing sports boxing? etc... how would you like to see draco malfoy riding a bike :P maybe going to a circus or two? and ice skating? all that kind of things? R&R please!