Athenakitty: The reaction to the kitten is here! Enjoy!
Demonic Angel: It wasn't entirely my idea. I give some of the idea to Mikee, who gave me the idea for the locket.
Charma1219: Thanks! And more chapters please!
Wolfie Jr: GO TO BED! Hehe, it's a little late. Sappiness, not usually my style, but it was necessary.
Xikum: Nope, it's all downhill from here!
Mistri: In public yes, but they don't really have to come with a mother right now. I think they'd be too preoccupied that Sev had a son to ask who the mother was.
Liliana-Suger: HERE IT IS! I used a little of my Native American background with it, so thanks!
Chaser: Sorry it's not as soon as I'd hoped.
Snapefan51: Snicker indeed. And ya gotta love Lily.
Lady Lightning: Thanks!
Angelsnape: Sweet indeed. My blood sugar level rose several points after writing this.
SlythGrl18: Love the name! Slytherin myself...Thanks for the awesome compliments and for reading!
Pineapplehead: Aww...
Sparrow: Sappiness knows no bounds
Mikee: It was a great item! Thanks for it!
Lei Dumbledore: Wow, thanks! Presents!
Sakura Le: Welcome back!
Nicole Christine Potter: One of my friends plays the cello. He could play with Yo Yo Ma's CD's in 8th grade. Made me sick
Sela: YAY!
Bananafanayou: The whole chapter was full of sappiness.
Alarun: Lockets are cool. Maybe after Voldemort is defeated.
Snape coolgirl: All it took was a little time!
Taryn and Jordan: I like it! *grun*
Fanfiction fanatic: thank you very much
Dragona: Bonding is great...more bonding here, only it's Harry/Hermione
Lee Lee Potter: Made me cry writing it
Micheline: All at once? WOW
Esperanza: Don't worry, you find out what Hermione is in this chapter!
Black Rose: Never have liked Gatorade.
Alamarang: Woot!
Moon Sphinx: PLEASE DON'T CRY!!
Saavik: Perfect...wow, thanks!
Rosemary Sage: Interesting name. My Password was the first thing I ever wrote. Glad you liked it.
Zaithat: I'll read it when you do respond! I love it!
Alecatq: Me? Destroy happy endings? Not in this fic!
Jennifer: These are all over the place. Severitus challenges are awesome!
Calm Serene: FOREVER? That's a lot of chapters...
And now, on with the fic! Christmas presents and all! Not to mention Hermione's animagus form!
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Harry woke at 7 a.m., pondering on whether or not he should go and pounce on his father's bed. He did say not to wake him at 5, and it was most certainly later than that. He put his red slippers on and shuffled down the hall, into his father's room. He tread carefully, remembering the last time he had been in the room. But Snape didn't seem to be having a nightmare, so it looked safe. He stood next to the bed and crouched down, waiting for the right moment to pounce.
"Don't even think about it," came his father's voice. Harry pouted, but pounced anyway, sending Severus flying in the air and off the bed. He landed on the floor and glared up menacingly at the perpetrator. Harry smiled innocently and bolted from the room, hearing his father's enraged yells down the hall. He came out seconds later, fully intent on hanging his son up in the dungeons by his thumbs. But Harry had already placed himself on the couch, surrounding himself with presents from all his friends. Severus sighed and, with a flick of his wand, he was dressed in deep green leisure robes and sat down in the chair. He summoned breakfast for them and Harry sped through it quickly, never leaving the couch. Severus levitated a gift from his study into the room and placed it next to Harry, who merely smiled. He jumped off the couch and flew into his room, retrieving a box himself, handing it carefully to Severus.
The man took it, and immediately felt the contents shift. He looked up quizzically at his son, who merely beamed at him.
"Go on, open it!" Harry chuckled, trying to hold back laughs. Snape carefully unwrapped it, lest Harry had gotten ideas from that blasted godfather of his. The top popped off and Severus peered in, not believing he had heard what he thought he'd heard. Inside was a small kitten, now curled up in a ball preening himself. Severus reached in and picked him up by the scruff of his neck, looking back and forth between the feline and his son.
"You got me a cat," Severus said. Harry rolled his eyes.
"I thought that would have been obvious," he drawled, earning him an amused glare from his father. Harry laughed out loud, and when Severus looked back, he saw the same glare on the cat's face. He couldn't resist a chuckle himself and set the cat down on the ground. It immediately jumped up on the arm of the chair, making his way to the high back, settling himself down. He shot a glare at the two humans, daring them to challenge his position there, but they left him alone. Harry turned back and sat himself between his presents, noting with some sadness that he actually had more than Severus.
"Thank you, Harry, that was...thoughtful of you."
"You're welcome! You know, I was going to get you a puppy, but when I walked in the pet store, that cat glared at me, so I had to get him. What are you going to name him?" The cat mewed indignantly, and Severus looked up, immediately laughing.
"I believe she is rather offended, Harry," he smiled. Harry looked sheepish for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, well, tuck in to your presents there. What time are you going to Granger's?"
Harry grabbed Ron's present and began tearing at the paper. "Um, she said that Christmas dinner was at 4, and so I could eat with them and be back at the castle before nightfall." Severus nodded approvingly as he watched Harry pull out loads of sweets, along with a book on tips for chess. Harry smiled and looked at Severus, who had a few presents of his own.
"You're turn," he stated at his father's questioning glance. Severus raised an eyebrow, but picked up his gift from Albus and began unwrapping it. It exploded with a pop in his hands, and a rather large hat sprang forth.
"Ah, Albus, you never cease to amaze me," he muttered, more to himself than anyone. Harry laughed out loud, but Severus flung the hat at him and he shut up. He grabbed his gift from Ginny and Blaise, wondering what those two could have gotten him.
He pulled out a gift certificate to Quality Quidditch Supplies from Blaise, and a wood carved jaguar from Ginny. She must have spent weeks on it, he thought, marveling at the detail of the wooden cat.
"That's marvelous, Harry. Who sent it to you?"
"Ginny, it's hand-carved. She must have been working on it since we chose our animals." He passed it to Severus, who examined it closely.
"This is remarkable," he whispered. Harry smiled.
"I think she would faint if she actually heard you say it," he chuckled. The cat mewed in response, staring at the statue as if it were competition. She had obviously realized that Severus was her human, and was now prepared to defend her territory. Severus smiled, handing the carving back to his son, and stroking the cat who had jumped in his lap. He grabbed his gift from the rest of the staff and opened it, revealing a book, Complex Potions for the Advanced Brewer. Severus smiled softly, noting in his mind to thank Minerva. No doubt, she was head of the group, in some effort to bring "Christmas cheer" into his dismal holidays. Harry opened the rest of his gifts silently, receiving a rather amusing singing book from Dumbledore, the Black family crest from Sirius, as he was the eldest in the line next to Sirius, and his annual Weasley jumper, complete with the golden "H" in the middle. He shoved it over his pajamas and picked up his last present, the one from Severus.
He rolled his eyes again at the green and silver wrapping paper, pulling at the ribbons carefully. He tore the paper away to reveal a small box, roughly the size of a Quaffle. Inside, he found a small willow hoop, no wider than an adult's hand, laced with webbing. It was decorated with beads, feathers, and hair, giving it an ancient appeal. He looked up at his father.
"It is a dream catcher, Harry. Do you know the legend behind it?" Harry shook his head, clearly indicating with his expression that he wanted to hear more. Severus moved to the space beside his son and held the dream catcher up to the light.
"Long ago when the world was young, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain and had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi, the great trickster and teacher of wisdom, appeared in the form of a spider. Iktomi spoke to him in a sacred language that only the spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand.
"As he spoke, Iktomi, the spider, took the elders willow hoop which had feathers, horse hairs, beads and offerings on it and began to spin a web. He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life – how we begin our lives as infants and we move on to childhood, and then to adulthood. Finally, we go to old age where we must be taken care of as infants, completing the cycle.
"Iktomi said, 'In each time of life there are many forces and different directions that can help or interfere with the harmony of nature, and also with the great spirit and all of his wonderful teachings.' Iktomi gave the web to the Lakota elder and said, 'See, the web is a perfect circle but there is a hole in the center of the circle. If you believe in the great spirit, the web will catch your good dreams and ideas – and the bad ones will go through the hole. Use the web to help yourself and your people to reach your goals and make good use of your people's ideas, dreams and visions.'
"The Lakota elder passed on his vision to his people and now the Lakota's use the dream catcher as the web of their life. It is hung above their beds or in their home to sift their dreams and visions. The good of their dreams is captured in the web of life and carried with them...but the evil in their dreams escapes through the center hole, and are no longer part of them."
Harry smiled as his father finished his narration, smiling at the item, and what it represented. His father cared enough to protect him, not only from others, as was proven time and again as they trekked to free his friends, but from his dreams, where he was defenseless. He took the item in his hand and stood, walking slowly to his room. Snape followed silently as Harry pulled his wand, hanging the dream catcher just above the head of his bed. The boy turned, smiling.
"It's perfect, thank you."
"Not at all, Harry. Now, it is still early," he threw his son a pointed stare, "so what do you say you write thank you notes to everyone and then we'll go to the Great Hall and have a Christmas brunch." Harry nodded and sat down at his mahogany desk and began to write notes out to everyone. Once done with that, he changed into black slacks and turtleneck and joined his father on the walk to the Great Hall.
Upon entrance, they saw the rest of the staff had beaten them there, and they sat down in silence. Dumbledore smiled and stood up, gesturing widely.
"Ah, Happy Christmas everyone," the sentiment was echoed around the table, "I'm so happy to see so many friends gathered together. In these dark times, it is important to remember those dear to you, especially during the holidays. I do hope to see all of you around this same table next year. Tuck in." The house elves had outdone themselves, and Harry reminded himself to go into the kitchens to thank them. He piled waffles and bacon onto his plate before pouring syrup over the whole lot. Severus smiled.
"You keep eating like that, Zabini might have a chance at matching your speed in the air." Harry swallowed and smiled.
"Not a chance," he smirked, tucking back into his food. Flitwick, who was on his other side, chimed in while pouring syrup over his plate.
"So, Mr. Potter, what did you get for Christmas?" he inquired. Harry wiped his mouth and turned to the miniature wizard.
"Uh, I got sweets and a book on chess from Ron, a gift certificate for Quality Quidditch Supplies from Blaise, a wood carved statue from Ginny, and a dream catcher from my father. I haven't gotten Hermione's gift yet; I won't see her until this afternoon. Speaking of," he turned around to face Severus, "When will I be allowed to go over there?" Snape's expression flashed amusement before contorting into thoughtfulness.
"Hmm...I don't know, I guess that all depends on how fast you finish your holiday work." Harry's eyes widened and he began shoveling food into his mouth. Excusing himself, he bolted out of the Great Hall and into his rooms, where he began to work studiously on his essays. He had almost finished them a couple days ago, but had to stop when he got to Care of Magical Creatures. The new teacher was horrendous; only the Ravenclaws seemed to like her. They had to write a full three feet on Elephandons and why their tusks can be used as magical cores for wands.
Harry finally finished an hour later, and walked back out into the main chamber. He found his father quietly playing chess against the board and sat down on the couch to watch. His father beat the game and turned to Harry.
"All finished?"
"Yeah, can I go now?" Severus thought for a moment, making Harry fidget. He smirked to himself and stood.
"Very well, take my hand. I'll apparate us directly there, as I doubt their fireplace is connected to the Floo network." Harry dashed into his rooms and grabbed Hermione's gift and a cloak, then ran back out, grasping his father's hand. Harry's hand looked small in comparison, but it felt much larger in the potions master's grasp. Probably the charms, he told himself. With a word, they popped out and reappeared in the Grangers' backyard. Harry ran up to the back door and knocked, and when a perplexed Mr. Granger answered, he turned to introduce his father. But Snape had returned quickly, not even saying goodbye. Harry dismissed it, though a little confused, and stepped inside when the man invited him. Hermione's face lit up and she jumped up, engulfing the boy in a hug.
"Welcome to our home, Harry," Vanessa greeted. Harry smiled and looked back once Hermione had released him.
"Thank you for having me, Ma'am," he replied. She merely smiled at him and Hermione grabbed his hand.
"Come on, dinner won't be ready for a few hours. We can watch a movie in the den." He followed her into a small living area with a TV and stereo system. She picked a movie and they settled on the couch, her leaning against him comfortably as he draped one arm over her stomach. As the movie played, he kissed the top of her head and laid his head back, thinking about how to give her the bracelet.
David walked by the den and smiled at the scene before him. He was glad his daughter had found someone to love her, and would go to any lengths to protect her. She had told him the gist of what had happened over the last few weeks, and though he didn't understand most of it, he wanted to personally thank Harry tonight. He beckoned his wife over silently, and she wiped her hands on a towel before joining him at the door. She smiled knowingly, and whispered to her husband as they walked back out into the kitchen.
"Does that remind you of anyone?" she asked.
"Us, when we were in med school. I remember those late night study sessions, Mrs. Granger," he teased. She threw a towel at his head.
"I believe you were the one that needed all the extra tutoring, Mr. Granger." He laughed as he pulled the offending cloth from his head and enveloped his wife in a firm embrace, kissing her deeply.
"I'm glad it was you who helped me," he whispered lovingly. A voice from the hall made them jump apart.
"So that's what it's like to walk in on your parents," Hermione said, her hand firmly intertwined with Harry's. They moved to the fridge and grabbed sodas, then walked back to the den, Hermione shaking her head at her parents' antics.
"Sorry 'bout them. They get carried away sometimes," she apologized. Harry set his soda on the table and took hers from her hand, doing the same. He took her in his arms and held on tightly.
"It's great that they love each other enough to still do that," he pulled back, "I've never seen how a proper couple should act, living with the Dursleys. They're not exactly what I would call adequate family material," he said darkly. Hermione saw his eyes hardened slightly at the thought of his former guardians, and she squeezed his hand.
"Harry, for never seeing how a 'proper' couple should act, you're doing wonderfully, and I love you for it," she laughed. Harry smiled.
"I love you too, Herms, and I have something for you." He dug in his pocket and extracted the long thin box. She gasped as she opened it, marveling at the beauty.
"Oh, Harry, this...this is...wow," she was speechless as she gazed upon the shifting hues, examining the whole of the bracelet before a warm hand took it from her. Harry placed around her wrist, kissing her palm as he finished. Sparing the corny line that popped in his head from listening to Petunia's drab romance movies, he kissed her lips tenderly, conveying his love in the contact.
Hermione pulled back and reached into her pocket, pulling out a silver chain with a silver lightning bolt on it. He smiled and took it from her hand, slipping it around his neck. It complimented his black turtleneck perfectly, and he hugged her tightly in thanks.
They separated and settled once again on the couch, sipping on their sodas and laughing at the antics of the characters. Soon, dinner was ready and they popped the DVD out of the player. After washing their hands, they went to the table, where Harry stood uneasily behind his chair. After the family was seated, he took his seat tentatively, and Hermione frowned, seeing the action as a habit from the Dursleys. They all joined hands, thanking the Lord for the feast, for friends and family, and for the joyous celebration of the birth of Christ. David held Hermione's hand a little longer, admiring the bracelet and throwing Harry an approving smile. He showed Vanessa, who gasped in surprise and exclaimed at the beauty.
"Harry, dear, that must have cost you a pretty penny! I mean, what are they called again dear?" Hermione rolled her eyes melodramatically.
"They're Galleons, Mum, Galleons," she giggled. Harry blushed slightly.
"Yeah, well, I, uh, saw it in the window and had to get it. It just seemed perfect," he explained as he watched Hermione pile mashed potatoes on his plate.
"Help yourself, Harry," she chastised, handing him a fork, "think Hogwarts." Harry nodded and accepted the slice of meat David placed on his plate.
"Harry, I wanted to thank you personally for saving Hermione. We don't really know the whole story; I don't think I want to know. But the fact that you went through so much to get to her, well, that just shows how much you care." Harry blushed and smiled.
"Uh, your welcome, sir. But really, there was no doubt as to what to do. I couldn't just let them keep her." He explained carefully, not wanting to divulge important information. The topic switched after the Grangers sensed his discomfort.
They ate while talking of school, sports, the dentistry world, and just about everything else. Harry tactfully avoided a question about his family by thinking about Snape instead of the Dursleys.
"Um, well, my dad teaches at Hogwarts. Of course, I just found out he was my dad about 6 months ago, but we've gotten closer since then. I was going to introduce you to him, but he Disapparated before I could."
"What does he teach?" Vanessa asked.
"Potions," David choked a little, coughing to dislodge the piece of meat in his throat.
"You mean Snape? Hermione, is this the same Potions master who insulted you last year?" Harry grimaced as he remembered the hallway incident when Draco had hit Hermione and enlarged her two front teeth. Of course Snape, being the snarky bastard he was back then, declared he saw no difference whatsoever. Harry chuckled a little at the thought, but shook his head clear of further thoughts of that year.
"Yeah, that's the same Snape. He's...complicated to explain. He holds a very delicate position, which requires him to hate me and all Gryffindors in public, especially the Muggleborns. Until Voldemort is gone, I don't think he's going to change his nasty ways," he declared haughtily. Hermione laughed as the information sunk in. "Don't worry, he's totally different in private. Well, ok, not totally different, but he doesn't go out of his way to be cruel, he's just precise and set in his ways. Not to mention cynical and sarcastic all the time," he added, rolling his eyes for effect. David and Vanessa laughed along with their daughter, seeing the blatantly obvious father/son relationship. A knock on the door interrupted the after-dinner conversation, and Mrs. Granger stood to answer the door. She came back into the kitchen with Snape behind her. Harry jumped up.
"Mr. Granger, Mrs. Granger, this is my dad, Professor Severus Snape," the potions master inclined his head to each and then looked at Hermione.
"Miss Granger," he said in way of greeting.
"Professor," she responded, looking a little scared at having the Head of Slytherin House and Master of Potions at Hogwarts in her kitchen. Harry pulled up another chair.
"We were just about to have dessert," he said, sitting back down beside Hermione. Snape seemed to think about it for a moment, then sat down as well. Vanessa scooped out the apple pie and ice cream, giving everyone a healthy serving.
Severus stayed quiet through the conversation, occasionally whispering to his son about something Trelawney said on the matter, causing him to snort at random intervals. Soon, Severus stood, indicating that Harry should as well. Harry stood, pulling Hermione with him, and hugging her one more time.
"You just go over those notes," he said, knowing full well she already had them memorized. He was hoping to get Snape to help her now.
"I already have, Harry. All I need is the incantation," she said, playing along. Severus sighed.
"Very well, Miss Granger, if you would go retrieve your wand and a piece of parchment," she scrambled up the stairs as Severus scribbled a note on the paper. He raised an eyebrow at his son, who smiled, pulling his owl whistle from his pocket. He sent a shrill whistle through the house, and Hermione came bounding down the stairs.
"What was that? Oh, the whistle. I'd forgotten about that," she said, reclaiming her seat next to Harry.
"I always carry it with me. You never know when I'll need it."
"What do you need Hedwig for?" she asked.
"So he can send a note to the Improper Use of Magic Office so they don't blame you for unsupervised magic." Hermione nodded, thankful someone had thought of that. Expulsion from Hogwarts would kill her. Hedwig swooped in the open window seconds later, and landed on the back of Harry's chair. She stood calmly as Severus attached the letter to her leg and instructed her as to its delivery, then turned to Hermione.
"Now, sit down please and concentrate hard on the parchment. Close your eyes and picture all the energy in your body, swirling, empowering it." She took a deep breath and sat at the table with her eyes closed, concentrating hard. David and Vanessa stared in awe, watching their little girl perform magic.
"Now, lift your wand and repeat after me. Invenio meus bestia."
"Invenio meus bestia," she echoed.
"Excito is ex." She echoed, a faint light encompassing her. "Now, tap your parchment with your wand." She did so, and the light absorbed into the paper, text scrawling out on it. Snape nodded approvingly. "Well done, Miss Granger. Not many can do that by just reading the notes." She smiled uneasily at the compliment and looked at her list. Harry peered over her shoulder, and Snape looked rather indignant.
"Well?" Harry laughed at his father and gestured for Hermione to read them allowed. She cleared her throat and read proudly.
"Cougar, Coyote, Eagle, Bobcat, Turtle," she said, giggling at the last. Snape nodded and pulled out the leather bound book Harry recognized.
"As soon as you decide, owl me and I will tell you of the animal's wisdom." Hermione nodded.
"I don't have to think about it, Professor. I want to be a coyote. I was reading this Native American book, and I think that would suit me just fine." Snape nodded approvingly and opened his book, searching for coyote.
"The coyote's wisdom is intelligence. He is a balance of safety and risk, and represents illumination." Harry laughed out loud, then clamped a hand over his mouth. Snape turned to him. "Might I ask what is so funny?"
"That is just too perfect for Herms. I mean, come on, intelligence. She's the smartest witch at the whole school. The balance between risk and safety thing; she's always keeping me and Ron out of serious trouble. And the illumination thing just reminded me of the time we went after Quirrell in the dungeons." Hermione laughed at the memory, and Harry explained at the confused looks on the adults' faces.
"Well, we fell into Professor Sprout's barrier, the Devil's Snare. Hermione remembered that sunlight would free Ron, so she illuminated the place with sunlight. Really quite ironic if you think about it." Hermione laughed with him as Snape shook his head at the two.
"Time to be going, Harry. Did you thank them for having you?" Harry nodded.
"When I got here, but thank you again. I had a great time," he turned to Hermione, hugging her tightly, "I'll see you when you get back to school." She squeezed him once more then released him, and Harry followed his father to a bare area of the living area.
"Goodbye," Snape said, then he laid his hand on Harry's shoulder, both winking out. Hermione's last thought sent her into peals of laughter.
But you can't Apparate or Disapparate on Hogwarts' grounds!