Chapter 38

"Alright," Snape said as he and Harry walked around the Christmas Tree lot in search of the perfect tree. "We need a big one."

"Right," Harry agreed as he shoved his hands into the pocket of his light blue coat. They were in the village near the manor and both were wearing warm Muggle clothes. Even Snape was sporting a dark grey coat and black trousers. Harry was sure that he would never get used to seeing Snape in anything other than robes.

"How about this one?" Snape asked, pointing to a tall but narrow tree.

"No," Harry said. "It has to be big around, too. Not just tall."

They walked a bit farther past smaller trees and Harry stopped to look at a few, but none of them were quite what he had pictured. No, the tree had to be perfect and that meant that it needed to be tall enough to fit inside the parlor, and big enough around that it filled out the space in front of the window. Snape had even suggested that they could always get one that wasn't quite perfect and use magic to fix it how they wanted, but that didn't seem right to Harry. He was sure that if they just looked hard enough, they would find it.

After all, this was going to be the perfect Christmas and so he had no doubt that they would find the perfect tree. They had to.

"Stay in sight, Harry," Snape said mildly as Harry walked ahead of him.

"I'm just looking over here, Snape," Harry called back as he walked farther towards the back of the lot. He could still hear Snape behind him so Harry figured he wasn't too far away as he scrutinized a group of fir trees.

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught Harry's attention and he looked around the tree to see what it was. Standing there, in the midst of several large trees was the biggest black dog that Harry had ever seen. But it wasn't though, because it looked exactly like the black dog he'd seen the night he left Privet Drive.

"The Grim," Harry breathed as he started to back slowly away, never taking his eyes off the dog. "Snape," Harry called out as calmly as he could. The dog cocked his head and continued to stare at Harry.

"Coming, Harry," Snape called back and suddenly the dog gave a low, menacing growl, its sharp teeth bared as if ready to attack.

Harry backed farther away, his breath coming in shallow puffs as he considered what to do. "Snape!" He could hear Snape coming faster now and then all at once, the dog turned and ran off.

"Harry!" Snape came into view just as the dog disappeared. "What's wrong?" Snape was looking around and Harry noticed his hand hovering over his left wrist where he knew his wand was tucked inside his sleeve.

"You didn't see that dog?" Harry exclaimed. "It was the Grim!"

"Dog? No, I didn't see any dog, Harry. What are you talking about, the Grim?"

Harry pointed to where the dog had been. "He...it was-"

"It's alright, Harry," Snape put his arm around him and pulled him close. "Just take a breath."

Harry tried to steady his breathing as he thought about the dog. When he was sure that he was fine he moved away from Snape with a blush. "Sorry," he murmured.

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Snape replied as he looked down at Harry. "Except for maybe not staying in sight like I asked you to."

Harry sighed. "Yes, sir."

"Alright," Snape said as he turned around before stopping abruptly. "Harry, I think you found it!"

Harry glanced up at Snape's words and sure enough there was the tree. It was easily nine feet tall and so big around that Harry had to back up in order to see the whole thing.

"It's perfect," he said and suddenly all thoughts of the dog were pushed from his mind.

Harry and Severus spent the next couple of hours buying decorations for the tree and the inside of the Manor, and when they got home, Harry was unsurprised to see the tree already set up in the living room. Snape had sent it home ahead of them and Jenka must have brought it in. Harry couldn't wait to start decorating it, but Snape insisted that they have lunch first.

He had been a bit worried about Harry since the apparent Grim sighting at the tree lot and had been keeping a closer eye on the teen ever since. Now, he was glad that they could just relax for a while and enjoy decorating for the holidays.

"Do you have a ladder?" Harry asked suddenly around a mouthful of chicken salad.

"Don't talk with food in your mouth," Snape scolded. "But, yes. Why do you ask?"

Harry swallowed his food and said, "Because we'll need one to get the star up on the top of the tree. Obviously."

Snape raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't be cheeky. Tell me, Harry, are you a wizard or not?"

"What're you playing at, Snape? 'Course I am," Harry grumbled, offended at whatever Snape was insinuating.

"Then wouldn't it make sense to use a simple charm, one that I know you learned in your very first year, to place the star on the top of the tree?"

"Well, duh, Snape, except for that bit where I'm underage and I've already gotten in trouble once this year for doing magic outside of school."

"You did magic over the summer with me at Hogwarts," Snape stated matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, but I was at school then. Now we're back at the Manor and they'll know it was me. Are you trying to get me expelled?"

Snape shook his head. "Even if I were, I've learned by now that it never works. They'll never get rid of the Golden Boy."

Harry grinned. "That's right. You'll be stuck with me forever."

"Forever?" Snape asked.

"Yep, I think maybe I'll just stay at Hogwarts after I graduate. Sleep in my room til noon every day, then get up and follow you around to all your classes. I'll use my cloak, too, so you won't even know I'm there. Then I could just walk around, whispering answers into the kids' ears all day long."

"You don't think I'd know you were there?" Snape finished his food and tapped the table so that it disappeared.

"Even if you did, what would you do about it? I'd be over-age then. You couldn't tell me what to do."

"Is that what you think? That once you're an adult, you can do as you please?" Harry nodded as he ate his last bite of food. "Well, I hate to break it to you, Harry, but that's not how it's going to be. Just ask Remus. He thought the same thing with Mum and Dad and it didn't work out so well for him."

"What happened?" Harry wanted to know.

"That's his story to tell, but I think he'd be open to telling you if you asked."

Harry nodded, "Maybe I will. He's taking me shopping Friday, you know."

"I know. I suggested it."

"Right." Harry glanced down at his empty plate. "Hey! We're done. Let's go decorate the tree!" He jumped up and was already halfway to the parlor by the time that Snape stood up.

"Not there." Harry pointed to a spot above Snape's left hand. "Higher and over to the right a bit more."

Snape sighed but moved the red Christmas ornament up and over to where Harry was pointing. "I thought you were supposed to be doing this?"

"Yeah, but you're taller than me. I might as well make use of you."

"It's called Wingardium Leviosa," Snape said drily.

Harry shook his head. "I'm only using that for the star. I don't want to mess it up and accidentally break one."

"You won't," Snape said as he passed Harry a glittering blue bauble that he hooked onto one of the lower branches. "You've been using that spell for two years."

"I like doing it this way, though," Harry commented. "Besides, we're almost done."

Snape and Harry took a step back and admired their hard work. The tree had been filled with colored decorations in all shapes and sizes. Some had glitter while others were simply shiny, but they all looked perfect to Harry.

"It's not right," Snape stated.

Harry looked up at him with a scowl. "Yes, it is! What's wrong with it?"

Snape pulled out his wand and pointed it at the tree, but before he said anything, he looked back down at Harry. "Would you mind if I used magic for this bit, at least?"

"Go on then if you know so much," Harry grumbled.

Smirking, Snape turned back to the tree and said, "Lumos natalis."

Immediately, Harry smiled and he watched in wonder as the tree began to sparkle with fairy lights that glowed brightly before dimming repeatedly. They covered the massive Christmas tree from the top to bottom, illuminating the space around it completely.

"How's that?" Snape asked.

"Not bad." Harry tore his eyes away from the sight long enough to find the star that he had left in the box for last. He held it out for Snape, who shook his head.

"You can do it, Harry."

Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at the golden star. "Wingardium leviosa."

Snape smiled as he watched Harry concentrating on carefully making the star rise to the top of the tree. It took him a try or two to get it situated on the top branch but when it was finally up, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good job. Now it looks perfect."

Harry watched the twinkling lights on the tree for another few minutes before he turned away and looked at the rest of the room. "Well, it'll be perfect once we decorate the rest of this place. Honestly, Snape, I think you're taking the 'bat of the dungeon' thing a bit too far."

"Is that so?"

"Yes," Harry answered. "Look at this place. The tree is the brightest thing in the whole house! It wouldn't hurt to open the curtains every once in a while. There's a little thing called sunshine. I don't know if you've heard of it-"

"Yes, yes, that's enough cheek out of you." Snape pointed his wand at a box beside the tree and a heavy length of garland rose out of it. "On the mantle?"

"Yes, and the other one goes up the stairs." Snape nodded and sent the garland easily over to the mantle where it draped over each side. Then he lifted the other one up and it went soaring over to the staircase. Another wave of his wand and it hung itself on the banister in small arches all the way to the top landing.

"You could help, you know," Snape commented. Harry grinned before looking around at the remaining decorations. A moment later, he was levitating a wreath up above the fireplace and Snape said the spell to make it stick.

By the time dinner was ready, the boxes were empty and the house had been sufficiently decorated with more red and green than Snape was entirely comfortable with. The only thing left were two stockings that Harry was currently hanging from the mantle. Both were scarlett with gold trim.

"I don't need a stocking," Snape said from where he sat in his armchair.

"Too bad." Harry ignored him as he straightened the stocking on the left. "They need names on them. Don't stockings usually have names?"

"If you want them to," Snape agreed. A wave of his wand and Harry's name appeared in a fancy curly font across the top of his stocking.

"Wicked," Harry grinned as he ran his fingers across the golden thread. "Now yours."

Snape hesitated, his wand already in the air. "Should I put 'Snape' or 'Severus?'"

Harry turned around, his brows knit together as he thought about Snape's question. "Which one do you like best?" he asked, coming to sit in the other chair beside his guardian.

"Either is fine with me," Snape said honestly. "Do you prefer one over the other?"

"I think I'd like-," but Harry cut himself off with a shake of his head. "I dunno. Draco calls you Severus."

"He does."

"And so do Remus, and your parents."

"Yes." Snape situated himself in his chair so that he was better facing Harry. "But that doesn't mean you have to if you don't want to. It's entirely up to you, Harry."

"What if I want to keep calling you Snape now, but something else later?"

"Whatever you want," Snape assured him. "Whatever makes you more comfortable."

Harry bit his bottom lip as he thought it over and finally said, "I think Snape then. For now anyway."

Snape nodded and a second later, 'Snape' was written in the same curly gold script on the top of his stocking. Harry smiled softly at the sight. For now at least, they were together and Harry was determined that it would be his best Christmas, even if it was their last.

Harry lay in his bed staring up at the ceiling long after Snape had come in to check on him before going to bed himself. Something had shifted between them, but Harry didn't know what it was. He thought over his decision to keep calling Snape by his last name and while he didn't regret it, he wondered if it was actually what he truly wanted. But 'Severus' didn't seem right either! It wasn't as easy or natural as Snape. But he wondered if it may have hurt the man's feelings. After all, he didn't call him Potter anymore. He had been simply Harry to him since before term had started, and didn't that mean something? Didn't it mean that something had changed between them? Harry thought so, but still, it didn't seem right to call Snape by his first name. If it really had bothered him, wouldn't he have said so?

Harry groaned as he rolled over in the bed and punched the pillow before dropping his head down into it with a huff. He stuffed his hands underneath it and felt the muscles in his back stretch a bit. But after only a minute, he was rolling back over onto his side as he kicked off the covers only to have them fall onto the floor. Harry left them there and tossed the pillow down for good measure.

His bedroom door opened a few minutes later and the light from the hallway poured into the room around Snape.

"What is going on in here?" Snape asked as he came into the room. "You've been tossing and turning for over an hour."

"How do you know?" Harry glared up at him.

"Because you sound like an upset hippogriff who's throwing himself around on the bed."

"Do not!"

Snape sighed as he moved towards the bed and bent down to pick up the blankets and pillow. He spread the blanket out over Harry before handing him the pillow and taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"What's bothering you?" he asked.

"Nothing," Harry said quickly, turning away from Snape to face the wall.

"It's obviously something or you would be asleep right now. Are you not feeling well?"

"I feel fine, Snape. I just can't sleep," Harry murmured into his pillow.

"Would you like a calming draught? Or perhaps a cup of tea?"

"No."

"I can't help you if you don't talk to me," Snape tried again and this time he reached over and put his hand on Harry's back, just between his shoulder blades, rubbing small circles there. Harry stiffened at the touch but made no move to dislodge Snape's hand.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?"

"It's stupid," Harry answered, now turning back to his stomach, making it easier for Snape to rub his back and to be able to see Snape properly. At least, as properly as he could without his glasses. "I can't see," he muttered.

Snape sighed, reaching over to his nightstand picking up Harry's glasses before handing them to him. "You'll bend the frames if you lay down with them on."

Harry shrugged and put them on anyway. He looked up at Snape again with clearer vision this time, and noted that Snape was wearing an undershirt and grey flannel pajama bottoms. "You look weird."

"Will you ever stop commenting on my clothing choices? I don't mention it every time you wear jeans and t-shirts."

"I wear them all the time. It's not weird when I do it."

Snape lifted his free hand and pushed his hair back from his face.

"Hey, what's that?" Harry was leaning up and Snape looked around to see what Harry was talking about.

"What's what?" he asked.

"On your arm." Harry was sitting now and he reached over and took hold of Snape's arm. His eyes widened in surprise. "You've got a tattoo, Snape!"

Snape's first thought was the Dark Mark and he started to jerk his arm away, but as he followed Harry's line of sight, he realized he was looking at the inside of his upper arm, not his forearm.

"Does your mum know you've got that?" Harry asked, grinning wildly.

Snape snorted. "Last I checked, I was well above age."

"How about when you got it?" Snape's only answer was a glare that Harry laughed at. "That's a no." Harry traced the rune symbols with his finger and Snape found that he felt neither uncomfortable or tense at the contact. "What does it mean?"

"Family. Or close enough," Snape answered truthfully.

"Are these letters?" Harry let go of Snape's arm and sat back against the headboard.

"Yes," Snape looked down at them. "They're my initials. Well, they would be if my last name had been able to be changed."

"To Dumbledore?" Snape nodded. "Can I get one? A tattoo I mean?"

"Not until you're of age."

"You didn't!" Harry protested.

"I was still older than thirteen." Snape held his hand out for Harry's glasses. "It's late, you should be sleeping, Harry."

"I already told you, I can't sleep," he said even as he took off his glasses and put them in Snape's hand.

"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

"No."

"Then you're going to sleep."

Harry rolled back over onto his stomach, hoping that Snape might rub his back some more, but at the same time, not wanting to ask him to. It turned out that he didn't need to though because Snape's hand immediately went back between his shoulder blades and Harry sighed.

"I'm gonna tell on you to Minnie," he threatened.

"Minnie?" Snape's hand stopped moving. "Since when do you call her Minnie?"

"Since she told me I could when we weren't in classes. I haven't yet though." Harry snickered. "It's a bit weird to know your professors outside of class."

"I felt the same way at first, but you'll get used to it."

"Will I?" Harry asked softly. "If Ms. Bouchard doesn't let me stay with you, it won't matter what I call her or Remus or Dumbledore...or you."

"Ah." Snape nodded. "There it is. Is that why you can't sleep?"

Harry shrugged. "Everything's changing," he admitted, "and I'm finally getting used to it. I like how things are now. With me and you. Remus said we were a family and then you said you loved me and now she gets to come in and say that none of it matters. That it's not enough."

"You don't know that-"

"And too many people are finding out," Harry continued. He started to sit back up but the way Snape was rubbing his back felt too good to have it stop. "We should have just kept it a secret from everybody. What if someone says something?"

Snape let out a deep breath. "Then we'll deal with that if and when it happens. Can I tell you something?" Harry looked up at him and nodded. "When I was first adopted, I was terrified of anyone finding out. In the remainder of my school years, I only told one person about it, and that was your mother. I understood the need for secrecy at the time. It was a good idea and it made it so that I had the opportunity to be a spy, which is what I wanted. I was- and still am- very good at it. But the fear of anyone finding out didn't plague Remus as it did me. He wasn't afraid to tell his friends about it. And honestly, it wouldn't have meant the end of the world if anyone had found out. We would have had to be more careful, of course. I'm sure I wouldn't have been a spy and dad would have been even more protective than he already is, but in the end, it would have been fine."

"But now you are a spy and if someone bad finds out about me-"

"Then I'll be even more protective of you than I already am. Even if that means you hate me for it," he added with a small grin.

"It won't matter if you die."

"You're too young to be worrying about such things, Harry."

"I'm thirteen. I know how this works, Snape. I just want things to be okay. I don't mind the secrecy either. I won't tell anyone that we don't trust, but it would be nice if I had more than a hidden tattoo with my 'would-be' initials when I grow up."

Snape sighed. "I know. Let's think no more on it tonight. It really is late and you'll be an absolute horror tomorrow if you don't get some sleep."

"You'll be a horror," Harry shot back, though his eyes were already closing.

"I love you, Harry."

"Love you, too, Snape."

Friday morning dawned bright and early for Harry, and he threw the blankets off before running downstairs and into the kitchen. Snape was, of course, already waiting for him.

"Remus is taking me shopping today," Harry said as he sat down in his usual spot. His food immediately appeared in front of him.

"I'm aware. I do hope you don't intend to wear your pajamas."

Harry looked down and grinned. "I was excited."

"Clearly. I believe you were supposed to get me a list of presents you would like to have for Christmas." Snape dropped the paper and picked up his coffee.

"I've got it," Harry replied, tucking into his food.

"And where might it be?"

"Upstairs."

"You will bring it down before you leave with Remus."

"Snape, I really don't need anything," Harry tried once again to get Snape to understand but it was no use. Snape merely raised an eyebrow at him and Harry sighed. "Fine, if you want to spend your money that badly."

"I do." Harry rolled his eyes.

"Can I get my allowance?" Harry asked. "I need it to put with what I have."

Snape pulled a money pouch from his pocket and passed it over to Harry. "I thought you might want it." Harry put it beside his plate without looking inside it. "Don't spend it all at once, Harry."

"I've got lots of gifts to buy, Snape and I-" Harry was interrupted by the sound of the floo roaring to life in the living room.

"I have a front door for a reason, Remus!" Snape called out.

"Morning, Remus!"

Remus walked into the kitchen with a grin. "Good morning to you, too, Harry. Can't say the same for Grouchy over there."

"I'm going to go change and then we can go," Harry said, almost getting up from his chair before Snape shook his head.

"You're going to finish your breakfast first, Harry."

"I'm done," Harry replied. Snape looked down at his plate that wasn't even half empty and pointed to it.

"Eat. Remus will wait for you."

"Sure, I will," Remus agreed as he sat down across the table from him and tapped it

once. A cup of coffee appeared in front of him and Snape rolled his eyes.

Harry sat back down and continued eating as the Snape and Remus talked about the

plan for the day. Remus would take Harry to Diagon Alley to do his shopping under a disguise so that no one recognized them. They would have lunch together and then come back to the Manor.

When Harry had finished his food, he left the table and raced upstairs to get ready. Snape and Remus watched him leave, and when he was out of earshot Snape said, "Watch him carefully, Remus."

Remus rolled his eyes. "You don't have to tell me how to take care of him, Severus. I'm perfectly capable of handling a thirteen-year-old for a day."

Snape smiled. "Let me know how that works out for you, then."

Harry came back downstairs then and shoved a piece of paper into Snape's hand before picking up the money bag and looking at Remus expectantly.

"Alright, alright," Remus said, draining the last of his coffee. "Let's go."

"Have fun," Snape called after them. "Behave, Harry."

"Behave, Snape," Harry called back. A moment later, Snape heard the floo roar to life once more and they were gone.

Harry and Remus had walked all over Diagon Alley and still Harry hadn't found the perfect present for Snape. He was beginning to think it wasn't out there at all and that Christmas morning would come around and Snape would have nothing from him under the tree.

"Don't look so glum, Harry," Remus said as they left the apothecary empty handed. "I'm sure you'll find something, and when you do, he's going to love it."

"Are you getting him something?" Harry asked.

Remus nodded. "We have a sort of tradition every year. He gets me the ugliest pair of socks he can find and I buy him a stash of candy that he never eats."

Harry looked up at him curiously. "Why?"

"I don't know, exactly." Remus held open the door to the next shop and Harry walked in ahead of him. "It's been that way since our first Christmas together. I guess neither of us knew what to get the other so we sort of just picked something at random and it stuck."

"Do you ever wear the socks he buys you?" Harry asked, picking a table near the back with a window.

"I do. On the day after Christmas and then never again."

"What does he do with all the candy?"

"Who knows?" Remus answered as the waitress came up to the table. They gave her their drink orders and she left again. "Knowing him, he tosses it as soon as I'm not around."

"Sounds about right. Only he would throw away candy. I've got a whole stash hidden in my desk drawer that he doesn't know about. And another up in my dorm."

Remus grinned. "Your secret's safe with me."

They ordered their food and began to eat, talking easily about anything that came to mind. Since they were both in disguise, Harry tried his best to remember to not say anything that would let on to anyone listening who they really were.

Harry was currently pretending to be Henry again, though this time he was Uncle John's nephew instead of Snape's. He found that Remus was more fun to be around than most adults and they'd had a blast looking around all the shops in search of presents, calling out to each other from across the store picking out ridiculous gifts that they hadn't actually bought.

Remus must have been thinking about the same thing because he suddenly grinned. "I should have bought that self-inflating balloon in the joke shop for Mum."

"Why?" Harry asked after taking a drink from his juice.

"I got her one for Christmas several years ago. Just for a laugh, of course. She had a real present from me as well." He took a moment to push his plate to the side so that he could put his palms together on the table. "So the balloons, they come inside a card, and when you open the card up-" he mimed the card opening with his hands- "the balloon inflates by itself. The problem is that they float up a bit until they're just in front of whoever you've given it to, and then they pop!"

Harry's eyes widened. "You gave one to your mum?"

Remus grinned wildly. "Well, I didn't know that it would pop! It was James's idea and he conveniently left that bit out."

"I take it she didn't like it?"

"She might not have hated it, at least. Except, I added extra balloons. So she opens the card and ten balloons inflate, float up in front of her, and pop all at the same time."

"Oh no," Harry breathed. "What happened then?"

"You've seen her turn into a cat, right?" Harry nodded. "I've never seen her transform so fast in my life."

"You're lucky she didn't kill you!" Harry laughed.

"It was definitely the last time I bought something like that," Remus was also laughing.

Suddenly, Harry remembered Snape's tattoo and he leaned in towards Remus, pulling his leg up under him. "Did you know Snape has a tattoo? I don't think McGonagall knows."

"Do you mean the one on his arm?" Remus asked.

"Yeah," Harry pointed on his own arm where it was, "right here."

Remus nodded. "Yeah, we've both got one. She's never said anything, but I doubt much gets past her. You don't think she'd approve?"

Harry shook his head. "No way! This is McGonagall we're talking about!"

Remus laughed. "Well, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not find out."

"Scared, Remus?"

"This is McGonagall we're talking about!"

Harry and Remus finished their meal before heading down the street to visit a couple other stores where he managed to find something for Snape, but if anything, it would be considered a funny, joke sortof gift. Not special enough at all.

Finally they headed to the bookstore. It was the one shop that Harry knew just had to have something in it for Snape. Once inside, they scanned the shelves in search of the perfect thing but Harry still hadn't found it. He had talked to Remus and thought he had an idea, but he would need Remus's help to figure it all out. It required a spell that Harry hadn't learned yet, but promised to help him later that day.

Harry was standing beside Remus as the older man searched for a specific book that he was planning to use later in class, when he felt someone move up close behind him.

"Hello, Potter." Harry froze. He was disguised! How had he seen through it? Harry whirled around to face Draco. The blonde boy was smirking at him.

"How did you-?"

"The disguise only works on people who don't know you well enough to see through it." Draco whispered, "Where's Snape?"

"At home," Harry replied, glancing around the shop to make sure no one was listening to them. Remus had moved a little farther down the aisle.

"So what are you doing here?"

"Trying to find him a present. He's not exactly easy to shop for."

"I know something. Something I guarantee you that he doesn't have," Draco said.

"What is it?"

"A rare potions ingredient. But it's in Knockturn Alley." Draco raised a brow and Harry knew he was challenging him.

Harry shook his head. "He'd kill me if I got caught. And you too, probably."

"If we get caught," Draco amended. "Do you want to get him something good or not?"

Harry considered Draco's offer for a moment. "How rare?"

"So rare that Mr. Mulpepper keeps it locked up inside a cabinet. I saw it there last year when I went with my father. He was talking about it with another man."

"What's it for?" Harry asked, glancing back towards Remus.

Draco shrugged. "I don't know, but I heard him say that it was the only one he'd ever even seen."

After another moment, Harry nodded. "Alright, hang on."

He walked over to where Remus stood reading the inside cover of a large leather bound book and said quietly, "Draco says there's a really wicked book in the next shop over that Snape would really like. Can I go check it out with him?"

Remus looked between Harry and Draco for a moment before shaking his head. "We can go over together in a few moments."

Harry sighed. "I'm thirteen, Remus. I think I can handle going one shop over by myself."

Remus glanced between the two boys once more with a frown, but finally, with a sigh, he relented. "Alright, you go straight there and back. Understood?"

Harry nodded. "Straight there and back. Got it."

Then, before Remus could give any more words of warning, Harry was gone.

Remus took his time in the bookstore, wanting to give Harry a chance to find what he was looking for and get back. He had found several interesting books and even a gift for Harry himself before deciding that enough time had passed and that he should take his things to the counter to check out.

It was only after he had shrunk all the packages and placed them into the pockets of his robes that Remus walked back out onto the street. He had just started to turn into the next shop where Harry was supposed to be when a most peculiar sight caught his eye.

An older man with greying hair, whose robes were shabbier than even Remus's, was walking up the sidewalk towards him with a scowl on his face. In his hands, he was holding on to two boys, by their ears.

Remus was immediately on alert as he turned away from the door of the shop and started walking towards the trio. Harry and Draco were both voicing their displeasure at the man who paid them no attention as he continued on his way to Remus.

"What's the meaning of this?" Remus nearly snarled at the man. "Unhand them. Now."

The man let go of Harry and Draco and shoved them none too gently towards Remus, who crossed his arms and glared down at them. Both boys were rubbing their ears, keeping wary eyes on their captor.

"These two miscreants belong to you then?" the man asked gruffly.

"One of them does," Remus glared at Harry, who dropped his head.

"My name's Mulpepper, from Knockturn Alley's Apothecary. I caught them in my shop, trying to get hold of one of my most expensive ingredients."

"Knockturn Alley? Is that so?" Beside him, he heard Harry groan.

"We weren't going to take it!" Draco suddenly spoke up. "We just wanted to check it out."

"Didn't I already tell you to get out of my shop? Didn't I tell you that it wasn't for sale?"

When neither boy seemed inclined to answer, Remus dropped a heavy hand on each of their shoulders. "Well? The man asked a question, boys, and I'd like to hear the answer."

"Yes, sir," murmured both Harry and Draco, one after the other.

Remus looked over to Mr. Mulpepper. "I can assure you that this won't happen again, Mr. Mulpepper. Isn't that right, boys? I believe you both owe him an apology this instant."

Draco scowled up at Remus but Harry didn't need to be told twice. "We're really sorry. We should have left when you told us to."

Draco sighed. "Yeah, sorry."

Mr. Mulpepper nodded and said to Remus, "Keep a better watch over your boy, lad. And you two, stay out of my shop."

When he had walked away, Remus took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Glancing around, he noticed that the streets were still plenty full despite it getting later in the day. He ushered the boys into a small alleyway between two shops and waved his wand around them, putting up a silencing spell. After another moment, he spoke, "I don't remember Knockturn Alley being one shop over from the bookstore."

Harry tried to swallow around the lump already forming in his throat. "Remus, I-"

"You lied to me!" He pointed back towards the bookstore. "You stood right in there and you lied to my face."

"I'm sorry." Harry crossed his arms in front of him and looked down at the ground.

Remus took another breath to calm down and turned to Draco. "Where's your mother?"

"In Madam Malkin's," Draco answered quietly.

Remus nodded. "Go there. Straight there."

"Yes, sir." Draco turned to leave. "See you, Harry," he whispered.

When he, too, was gone, Remus said, "I'm taking you home."

"Remus, no-"

"Yes. Would you rather disapparate or floo?"

Even after everything, Remus still cared about what would make Harry the most comfortable, and Harry didn't think he could stand it. He looked up into Remus's usually warm brown eyes and saw only disappointment there.

"Disapparate," Harry answered glumly. He just wanted to go home and he didn't think he could stand the walk back to The Leaky Cauldron with Remus this angry at him.

Remus nodded and pulled Harry close to him. A second later, they were gone.

AN: Okay, so it's time for a bit of interactive fiction. The next chapter is already halfway done but I'm stuck and I need your help. Harry and Snape can do one more activity before Christmas itself. And you get to decide. Will it be A- Harry and Snape bake cookies together, or B- Harry drags Snape to a Christmas Party at the Weasley's? I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and please let me know what you thought about it.