Obligatory Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character, story element or plot item originally published in the Harry Potter books or movies that I may refer to in this story. I'm merely playing in the sandbox.

Branm woke and considered Christmas morning from the previous day. It had been quiet, calm…perfect. Sarah had done an amazing job in recreating the classic ideas. A present at his bed, a pile of small gifts under the tree. Her uncle had even worn a red had had with a fur lining to hand out the presents, grumbling a bit , but clearly enjoying it. There was only a ghost of a hard memory of his godfather singing and manically tossing decorations.

The elves had outdone themselves, making a feast big enough to feed a dozen. Leftovers were going to some nearby shelters, boxed carefully with just enough magic on them so that the workers wouldn't question not remembering getting the donations. Brahm would never forget his own cold and hungry Christmas's and he knew that Algie approved.

This morning was going to be a portkey to the Dursley's new backyard. He wondered why he had agreed to this, but then thought of the letters. They were different. It's Christmas.

He stepped down to breakfast and the elves had put a light spread out, but there were some leftover cakes from the feast the day before. He decided to have a cheat day and enjoy a slice of one of the chocolate ones. Adding it to the eggs and fruit.

Sarah joined him, quiet and eying him carefully. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

He smiled at her, but the memories of being thrown in the broom closet came back. He focused on the grin she'd had has she held a mistletoe over his head , the mock angry look of frustration on Algie's, the night before.

"I'm proud of you."

This did get a real smile. "I'm proud of you, too." Algie had talked with he pair and convinced them both to talk to therapists. The fight had proven both weren't as healthy as they thought, butt they wanted to fix things. The same Unspeakable who was working with the Dursley's to cope with the long-term damage of the compulsions was going to work with them, being familiar with the case. The very idea went against what Brahm himself was comfortable with. That's what made him decide to do it. It was different than he'd been raised with. So much of the past few years to him had be where new was better.

Algie joined them, having a coffee and a skipping the sweets, though not commenting on either of them enjoying them. "Winky and Dobby told me that they were going ahead to help with prepping lunch. Dobby said he had something special for dessert."

Brahm shrugged. "They asked me if they could do that, and I just said to do whatever they wanted."

The man nodded, "I just reminded them that this was a mostly nonmagical house. The windows are charmed to hide certain activities, but just in case."

"It's a holiday, Uncle. Can we drop security for a moment?"

Algie smiled at her and sighed, "No."

This made the three laugh. Brahm felt the atmosphere lift at the sound, and he felt he was getting ready to do this. Not there yet. He had a few hours to get the rest of the way, though.

That time seemed to fly by and before long, he was holding a hula hoop and waiting for the magic to activate. They were going to land in a special portion of the garden and were wearing additional disguise bracelets. Their looks were closer tot heir normal selves, his hair darker and hers lighter. He was amazed at how little people, magical or not, paid attention to their surroundings. Little changes would make someone invisible to most.

Brahm felt the familiar jerk and whirling sensation before they landed in the garden, surprisingly in a ring of stones. "Your Aunt has been working here. She set these benches up to mark a safe zone for us. Visiting neighbors are told that she's saving this spot for something special this Spring, so no one questions."

"Not a bad idea."

They walked up to the back door but didn't have to knock. "Come in, come in. It's chilly out."

Petunia's voice was welcoming, but that wasn't what brought Brahm up short. Petunia looked different. He'd known from Veron's letters that he and Dudley had lost weight, but Petunia's pinched look was gone. She smiled and the smile reached her eyes.

"Brahm?"

"Sorry, sorry." He stepped forward at Sarah's question, walking in after stomping the snow from his boots. They entered a much bigger kitchen than he'd remembered from their previous home. The room was warm and there was a wonderful smell. A cup of tea was handed to him before he could ask, and he sat at the small table.

"I'm glad you came. Vernon and Dudley will be back son. They were at the gym. Can't keep them from getting a workout in when they can." She sat to join them, her own cup in front of her. "They call it their guy's time."

Brahm nodded, fixing his milk as Sarah asked some questions about the house. He was having trouble trying to reconcile all of this, but the familiar actions with the tea helped. Finally, the door opened, and he jumped to his feet. Vernon and Dudley walked in and greeted them. Their hair was wet, clearly, they'd cleaned up before coming home, but what Brahm noted was that the men could have almost walked through the door together. "Changed, a bi, haven't we?"

Brahm eyed the pair and nodded slowly. The room was different, they were different, he'd never have believed it. "I…you look good. Everything thing is so different." His last words were whispered, and he felt Sarah's hand slip into his. The tea and this grounded him as a few of his elves came and insisted on assisting the placement of the food. Once again, there was just too much. He poked at the first part of the meal and noted the adults looking at each other worriedly but didn't say much. He was right. This was a bit much to take. Maybe I rushed this part.

"Brahm?" Petunia had hesitated on the name.

"Let him take a moment. You know what the counselor said to us."

There was a pop as Vernon spoke and Dobby appeared. "I have a special dessert….and an apology."

Dobby's English had improved working with some of the other elves. "Go on, lad. It's early but we can make room."

Dobby nodded and snapped, an elevated platter appearing just to one side of the table. And hovering. It was the dessert. He hadn't known what it was but would never forget it hovering over the client's head and dropping. "Dobby…I mean, I smashed this that night. I wanted to get ….him in trouble to keep him from going to Hogwarts..."

"That was you?" Vernon had a funny look on his face and for a moment Brahm was waiting for the explosion. It happened.

The man laughed.

"I wish you'd dropped the whole dinner on them. Three months later, we've d not got paid and they were suing us for inferior products. Turns out their company was in the straights and were going to use Grunnings to try to lever themselves back int o the black. You'd have saved us a lot of headaches." He stopped. "I told the story of Har….Brahm dropping the dessert on her head and my coworkers laugh. Said he must have known hat was coming and said I should get lottery numbers from him."

The room was silent for a moment before a snorting sound disturbed the mood. Brahm began to laugh, laugh hard at the whole thing. "I can't ….I mean…" He started laughing again. Sarah directed Dobby on where the put the pudding , then looked at Brahm.

"Feeling better."

"A bit." He picked up his fork. "Oh, that reminds me, I have a present for you guys. Well, we do."

He'd had his doubts about it, but now was certain it was a good idea. He called for Winky as they protested. She arrived with a picture frame. Within it was a picture of him as Harry, Sarah as Luna and Algie as himself. The family portrait was taken by a known photographer the older man, nonmagical except for a protective charm that would fade when their disguises did. "it's not much, but I wanted you guys to have a picture of us We're family."

No one argued his lie. And the dinner went on, tension abated. After a few minutes, Vernon nodded. "Did you have a good Christmas?"

"Yes, sir. It was wonderful."

Sarah paused. "You were wrapping gifts las t night. What was that about?"

"He smirked. "I…well, Harry, had a few surprises for some people."

Minerva watched as Hagrid walked through the snow, coming in to discuss his needs at the staff meeting. She held the envelop in her hand and wondered what was going to com from it. Soon, as they were all gathered, the headmaster clapped his hands together, smiling a smile that many, including her, were doubting. "I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas."

"It's not over yet, Albus. I have a letter here and have been advised that one of our former students have gifts for us."

"Gifts?" Pomona asked, curious.

"Who is it?" Severus asked, suspicion clear in his voice.

"I'm not allowed to say until my first letter is read." She opened the letter in her hands, slipping the parchment from the fine envelope. There was an exhalation from Filius, and she glanced at him. "There are some….interesting protective charms on the envelope."

"The first letter warned me of this. I was advised that this envelope should only be opened in the presence of the entire staff, then read aloud…and that it contains another envelope from the student in question." She had her suspicions, the magic in it felt familiar, but she held her opinion.

"To the staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I write to you in the stead of one of your former students. He has left in my care a gift for each of you, all wrapped and only openable by the recipient. With that gift, he left a promise that none of the gifts are pranks themselves and hopes that you all have a wonderful holiday season and reaming part of the school year." She set the parchment aside, revealing the nested envelope it had contained. "It is signed by Lord Black."

As Albus raised his hand, wanting to see the letter, Filius waved his wand and shook his head. "There is almost nothing there that you can use, I can trace it to a location in the United States, but this won't help. This is Gringotts magic, and you know how they have been treating you of late."

The older man scowled., then waved for Minerva to continue. The ne letter was opened and she smiled. "Dear staff of Hogwarts. I did leave fairly quickly and had something to say to you all. I figured I can do that by letter, since it's not safe for me to return."

She gestured to Severus. "Yours is first."

"I would imagine this is something from Potter." As he said the name, boxes appeared in front of each, a Hogwarts elf appearing long enough to bow, then vanish again. "What could he give me that I want?"

"I would say to open it. I think you want to hear what I will say next."

Severus scowled, then opened the green and red package, tossing the ribbon to the floor. As he lifted the notebook, he froze. "This is a copy of…Slytherin's potion journals."

"I know that you are no longer the Potions Instructor, but that it was a great love for you. The work here is translated from a special Parseltongue writing that he himself concocted, so it is a copy, unlike some of the other presents for the day. I did, however, us a Dicta Quill to avoid any handwriting issues.

"Professor Snape, I can think of several times where, despite hating me, you helped keep me safe against threats to my life. As such, per the old ways, I empower Minerva McGonagall to speak these words in my absence. I declare that any debts between Severus Snape and the Potter family, namely Harry Potter as Heir to the family, are now null and void. You no longer we me a life debt as you have indicated. I also speak for myself and pass along the apologies of Lord Black to apologize for the horrible act that Sirius committed that led to the debt. I cannot call it a prank, for you would have likely died or had your life changed in such a way as to never return to normalcy. That is not a prank."

She watched as Severus nodded slowly, setting the book down, then raising a hand that had a wand in it. She'd not seen the draw but heard the words. "I accept with gratitude, so may it be."

There was a snapping sound and a glow, and he seemed to relax. "So that was a true debt."

"It was. I feel better."

Other gifts were less exciting, books for the other instructors. She herself received a rare transfiguration treatise thought lost. Again, it was a copy, the original being copied again for republication, but she was able to read it before it reached the market and she appreciated it. Hagrid crowed loudly at a crystal ball which turned out to she a permanent view of the dragon reserves. She had to smile at the thoughtful gift.

As she reached the headmaster, who had tried to open his gift and could not until his name was called, she let the smile fall from her face. "I could not leave you out, Headmaster, even though I feel little good will towards you. For your sins, I present you a traditional gift."

The box opened and revealed a lump of coal. There was laughter in the room, and he sighed patiently, vanishing it.

A crack of thunder answered his act. They all leapt to their feet and the repeated crack and left the conference room to see the Headmaster's Office with a new decoration. A storm cloud brewed over his desk and yellow rain poured over it. Hagrid approached and eyed the rain as Minerva's lip curled. "A little distasteful"." She couldn't blame him, though. She looked to the letter and watched as a paragraph appeared. w

"I see that you have declined my gift and the reminder for improving your actions over the next year. That is a shame. In that case…." She stopped.

By this point, Hagrid and sniffed at the rain that poured forth, seeming to pool just around the desk and vanish, then reach for a teacup on a set table next to him, gathering some and drinking it. "it's lemonade?"

"In that case," Minerva continued, enjoy a test sample of a product I intend to send the Weasley twins. You offer Lemon Drops; I give you a Lemon Storm."

Author's note: So, here we are again, with another long gap. I was rather sick; it seemed and was allowed to enjoy a few surgeries and a long hospital stay. Unfortunately, with that sickness came some damage to my eyes. I have not edited this chapter fully, but the blurry red streaks in my text editor frankly make me cringe.

What does this partial blindness mean going forward? You may see more editing errors than usual. I try to get rid of them, but right now only have one person to turn to to edit my work and my dear wife has a full-time job. Besides, that, I am going to try to finish, somehow.

On to happier things, I made the Christmas decision long time ago, but have been sitting on the storm cloud pun for weeks, thanks to a fairly dirty joke in the Dominic Deegan comics and my own warped sense of fun. I hope you all enjoy, and I'll try to get back on schedule during my recovery. For those of you who pray, I wouldn't mind a few in my direction. For those of you who are wondering how to continue with life hits you with a truck, I often find solitude in the Paul's letter to the Galatians in the Bible. "Do not become wary in doing good, for at the right time, you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up." Galatians G:9