AN: Special thanks to my Scots Beta Scottishteddy. She's a whiz at making Fiona come alive! And don't worry, the focus of this story isn't Fiona, just a theme for the holidays.
Harry woke on Christmas morning and threw his pillow at Sirius.
"Wake up!" he yelled at his roommate. "It's time!"
"Time?" Sirius echoed groggily.
"Christmas!" Harry yelled at him, leaping out of bed. "Hurry! No lie in today!"
"It's far too early," Sirius told him, blinking to clear his eyes as he looked at the clock.
"It's not!" Harry protested, then looked at the clock. "Well, maybe a bit early. But let's sneak down at least and get a look."
"Okay," Sirius agreed, grumbling. "But if we get sent back it's all your fault."
"Agreed," Harry nodded. "I take full blame."
The two boys snuck into the main room that held the Christmas tree. They saw the tree, all warm and lit, with the plate of gingerbread men doing their merry jig around the plate. Presents reflected light off their foiled papers, and then Harry sucked in his breath as he spotted Snape and Fiona sitting on the couch together. Harry was about ready to give himself up, knowing that Snape would be able to sense he was in the room anyway, when he realized that Snape was looking flustered. Interested, Harry and SIrius froze and watched.
"I am so glad you were able to come for Christmas," Snape told her, his voice hitching slightly. "I didn't realize you rose so early."
"Well, 'tis a strange bed," she told him sweetly. "And since I was awake, I thought I'd hae a look a' the tree. It's prettier to read out here."
"That it is," Snape told her, his face soft. "I, well, I had the same thought myself. Would you like some of the tea I ordered?"
"Thank you," she sipped the cup he offered her. "I wonder what the lads have in store for us today."
"There's a ban on pranks for today and Boxing Day," Snape explained. "So it should be peaceful."
"As peaceful as it gets with those two," she laughed. "But I'll wager they're up soon."
"It is very early," he told her with chagrin.
"Well this gives us a cozy moment before the lads join us," she smiled. "'Twill no be long."
"I, well, actually I was hoping for a moment alone with ye, Fiona."
"Hoping for a Christmas kiss?" she asked, smiling sweetly.
"Perhaps," Snape answered, his voice soft. "But I also wanted to ask you something else."
"Yes, Severus?"
"Well you know, surely you must know how ardently I love and admire you," he told her softly. "This past year with you, I have no words to say how much I have enjoyed our relationship together."
"I feel the same, Severus," she told him, her voice soft and warm as well.
"I want us to be together for the rest of our lives," he told her softly. "Fiona, will you marry me?"
Fiona, gasping in surprise, began to cry as she flung her arms around his neck.
"Are you alright?" he asked her with some concern.
"I am fine," she told him, wiping tears from her eyes.
"You haven't yet answered my question," he told her, his lips twitching. "It is a good thing I know you cry when you're happy too."
"Yes!" she answered, hugging him again. "Yes! The answer is a thousand times yes."
Snape brought out a small box, his hands slightly shaking as he did so.
"Aren't ye' supposed to be on a knee at this point?" she asked him, rapidly gathering her wits together.
Chuckling softly, Snape bent down on one knee, opening the box and offering her the small ring inside.
"It was my mother's," he said with emotion. "Not her wedding ring. It was my Grandmother's wedding ring, but I remember my mother wearing it as well."
"It's beautiful," she breathed, looking at it. "It looks brand new."
"Easy enough to polish it up a bit," Snape replied with a smile. "May I put it on you?"
Fiona eagerly put out her hand, and Snape slipped the ring on her finger. He flicked his wand, instantly sizing the ring to fit her perfectly.
"Now, about that kiss?" he asked her, drawing himself up beside her while still kneeling on the ground.
Fiona eagerly met his kiss, and soon she was enfolded in his arms.
Harry and Sirius, in shock but really not wanting the Potions Master to catch them, silently crawled back from their view and made their way up the stairs as quietly as they could. When they were both in the bedroom, Sirius burst into laughter.
"Who knew bat britches had it in him?" he laughed.
"Does that mean she's going to be my mum?" Harry asked, dazed. "I mean, I guess this means they're getting married."
"Generally it does," Sirius smirked. "Fiona's not so bad, really. She'll be fine."
"Will Dad love her more than me?" Harry asked, his voice pinched. "What if they have a baby? Oh Merlin, then he'll have a real son. I mean . . ."
"Well, she'll be his wife," Sirius explained. "It is different. But you know, he had you first. Even if he has another kid. And all that stuff he's always saying to you, no, I think you'll be fine. You could always ask him."
"Ask him?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Yeah, ask him," SIrius said. "It's not such a strange idea."
"Go up and say, 'Sorry Dad for spying on you as you proposed to your girlfriend, and now I want to know if you're going to make babies to replace me?"
"Well, maybe not quite like that," Sirius answered, fighting back a smile.
"Will he want me?" Harry asked, his voice cracking slightly. "I mean, he can have a real family now."
"And you're his imaginary family?" Sirius asked sarcastically. "Seriously, Harry, go and talk to the man."
"I just don't know how to bring it up."
"If you don't talk to him you'll do something to get his attention and then he'll probably spank you, you'll cry and then finally tell him the truth. Right?"
"How do you know that?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"Oh please," Sirius rolled his eyes. "Save your backside and just go and talk to the man."
"I don't want to ruin his blissful kissing," Harry shot back. "Maybe when he comes up for air."
"Your funeral," Sirius rolled his eyes.
Harry decided to just scowl and grumble for the next half hour until they decided that they could emerge from their room. By then, however, they found Remus was up and congratulating the newly engaged couple.
"Harry! Sirius!" Remus called to them. "Come and hear the good news! Severus and Fiona got engaged this morning!"
Harry allowed himself to be jostled forward by Sirius, but couldn't fake excitement. He just felt that this was the beginning of the end. No more father that loved him, no more house, no more prank wars . . .
"Aren't you happy, Harry?" Remus asked him. "Now you'll have two parents."
"Until the baby comes," Harry spat back, and suddenly the room fell silent. He felt Snape's eyes on him, but didn't look up.
"My study, now," he heard the cool voice of his father command.
"Yes, sir," he answered, not even sure how he found his voice.
Wordlessly, he followed his father into his study, and felt his stomach clench as he pulled the door closed. Snape walked softly to his chair and sat behind his desk, facing an angry Harry who was just barely keeping tears in check.
"I see that news of my engagement has not been the most welcome news to you," Snape observed carefully.
"You should have told me!" Harry protested, trying hard to fight back the tears.
"Most men do not consult their sons on proposing to their girlfriends," Snape answered him calmly. "What's really bothering you, Harry?"
"You are!" Harry answered, now yelling with his fists clenched. "You have no right!"
Snape sighed, pushing himself away from his desk and motioning to Harry. Harry obeyed, standing next to him and waiting to see what the man would do.
"You need to cry," Snape told him calmly. "You can either sit on my lap, have a good cry and then tell me what's going on or you can bend over my lap and I'll give you reason to cry."
"You can't spank me if I didn't do anything wrong!" Harry protested.
"I believe I can if you just insinuated that Fiona was pregnant."
"I didn't mean that!" Harry protested, flushing. "I only meant that . . . well . . . I meant that when you have a baby together . . . that I won't really be . . ."
"Be what, Harry?"
"Your son," Harry blurted, tears now escaping his eyes. "Once you have your own son you won't want me anymore."
Harry felt his father gather him into his arms and gently pull him onto his lap. He snuggled against his father's chest, letting the tears come. All the fears he had of Snape not wanting him anymore bubbled to the surface, and he began to sob.
Snape just held the boy on his lap, wrapping him in his arms and murmuring comforting sounds to him. Harry eventually was able to calm the sobbing down, but still snuggled into his father's chest. He felt embarrassed at the amount of crying he did, but also felt relieved that his father had given him permission to do it.
"Now can we talk about it?" Snape asked softly.
Harry nodded, his breath hitching a little.
"I can see that you're worried that adding Fiona to our family will make you less important to me," Snape told him softly. "And that the possibility, and let me assure you that that is remote, of another child supplanting you in my affections. Is that correct?"
Harry just nodded, accepting the handkerchief that Snape held out to him.
"Your fears are certainly rational," Snape told him. "Though I have done everything to assure you of my continued affection and relationship with you, we have not ever discussed what it would be like for me to marry. So I apologize for springing this on you, I should have prepared you better."
"It's okay," Harry hiccupped.
"But I also think that I've been pretty clear as to my intentions towards you," Snape told him. "I have adopted you, not decided to let you stay with me like some exchange student. I am your father, and nothing could change that even if you wanted to change it."
"Really?" Harry sniffed.
Snape sighed. "I'm going to give you lines if you can't remember this simple fact. I love you. I will always love you. There is nothing you can do to make me not be your father any more. And certainly adding someone like Fiona to our family is going to do it. I have room in my life to love more than one person, Harry."
"You do?"
"Well, do you love more people than me?" Snape asked.
Harry nodded. "My friends, Ron and Hermione and Draco. And of course Remus and Sirius."
"What if I said that I was worried that you couldn't love me anymore because you were becoming too good of friends with Ron and Draco?"
"That would be silly," Harry laughed at the picture of it. "It's completely different. You're my dad."
"And you're my son," Snape insisted. "It doesn't matter whom I marry, that is still the case."
"Really?"
"Of course," Snape answered, patting him softly. "I also had hoped that you had grown in some affection for Fiona. She is very excited to be your stepmother, Harry."
"I'm not really sure what it's like to have a mother," Harry answered. "Aunt Petunia wasn't really that for me. Maybe for Dudley, but not for me."
"Well, she's never had a son before either. I think you will both figure it out."
"I do like her," Harry admitted. "She's funny and nice, and she makes you nicer too."
"I believe you're right," Snape smiled.
"Promise me that you'll still love me even when you're married," Harry asked, looking away.
"Of course I promise," Snape told him, hugging him. "And I don't break my word."
"Then I should have let you spank me," Harry said. "It would have been unjust, and I would have gotten 200 galleons."
"Scamp," Snape laughed. "Now let's go have some of that breakfast Maisie fixed us and maybe open some of those presents."
"What should I say to Fiona?" Harry asked him, nervous. "I mean, I didn't mean to imply that she was pregnant before you were married."
"She's a parson's daughter," Snape told him. "She would not appreciate you implying she was immoral. Perhaps you should start with an apology."
"Will she like me?" Harry asked.
"Of course," Snape assured him. "She will love you. She already does, you don't have to be anything except Harry."
"Maybe we could wait a while," Harry told him.
"Courage, young Harry," Snape replied. "She won't bite."
Harry followed Snape out into the room, and Harry felt all eyes on him. He knew they were speculating what had happened to him, and he tried to walk in such a way that communicated that Snape simply talked to him, not punish him or hold him while he sobbed.
"Fiona," he said bravely. "I would like to apologize for my rudeness. I did not mean to imply anything about you, I was having my own problems."
"Thank ye fir ye apology," she told him softly. "'Tis a brave person to admit they're wrong."
"Congratulations," Harry continued. "I am excited to have you as a stepmother."
"Thank ye, Harry," she told him, tousling his hair with affection. "I ken it's hard tae have yer family change, thank ye for being so kind about it."
"I want this to work," Harry smiled at her.
"And did yer father force ye to apologize?" she asked with a glance at said father.
"He did not," Harry told her sincerely. "He just listened to me and - er - hugged me for a bit. When I was afraid of what to say to you he said I might apologize."
"I see," she told him. "With that look on his face I thought you might be reprimanded most firmly."
"Na," Harry smiled at her. "If he spanks me harshly or unjustifiably he owes me 200 galleons. It's too much money to risk."
"Indeed," Snape solemnly inclined his head. "Though there have been times I weighed if it was worth it."
Fiona laughed, and patted Harry's shoulder. "Then let's get on with our Christmas," she invited. "You should see the cinnamon buns that Maisie has made."
And with that, they did. They ate the lavish breakfast put out by Maisie, they unwrapped gifts together, and then went outside for a snowball fight which Sirius and Remus lost miserably by underestimating Fiona's cunning.
As the day wound down, Harry and Sirius found themselves being tucked into bed by their prospective fathers.
"She's going to be a good stepmom," Harry told Snape sleepily. "Anybody that can throw a snowball like that has to be good."
"It's time I got a stepmom too," Sirius teased Remus. "It's not fair that Harry gets one."
"Good night, then," Snape told them both. "I hope all the fudge you two consumed doesn't interfere with your sleep."
"Sleep well," Remus told them. "We've had a busy day."
"That we have," Snape agreed. "Good night, boys."