A/N: Continue to reveiw! I really appreciate the feedback and enjoy reading your comments. I also have a blog that I'm going to use to write some Harry Potter analysis, so private message me if you're interested. This is a long one, but I hadsomeone request this scenario, and I like the way it turned out. Enjoy!
December was approaching, and normally Harry wasn't very excited for Christmas. The Dursley's never gave him presents or allowed him to partake in their celebrations. Since coming to Hogwarts, Harry's holidays had definitely improved, but they still reminded him of how alone he was.
This year, however, would be different. Harry had a family this year, a real family. Two men that his own his parents considered to be like brothers. For that reason, he couldn't wait for Christmas; that is, until he went to his transfiguration lesson on the first of December.
"Mr. Potter, will you stay after for one moment." McGonagall said at the end of class.
"Blimey mate, what did you do?" Ron asked, giving Harry a sympathetic look.
"No clue," Harry said with a frown. He walked up to Professor McGonagall's desk and she gave him what he thought to be a sympathetic smile.
"Mr. Potter, I'm not sure if you have heard, but it is a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament for the school to host a Yule Ball on Christmas Eve. The champions are expected to lead the first dance and as such, you will need to find a date and prepare."
"What? No, I don't dance…" Harry said, looking at his professor in horror.
"Well I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but it's not optional. Luckily for you and your Gryffindor peers, Professor Black and I will be holding a lesson in a few weeks to prepare you all." McGonagall said sternly, shooting a look to Ron who was waiting at the door for Harry. Harry turned to look at him and was pleased to see he was equally as horror-struck at the idea of dancing at this ball. "I suggest you begin to look for dates."
Harry scowled, but politely said "yes professor," before following Ron out the door. "A dance? Blimey, I wondered what those horrendous robes mum bought me were for!"
"I can't dance at all! And a date? We have to find dates?" Harry said, searching the corridor for a potential suitor.
"And what exactly are you worrying about? You just stole an egg from a dragon and came out unscathed. You'll have no problem finding someone… but me? bloody hell." Ron said, looking around wide-eyed.
"A dance, Sirius! And I've got to find a date! I can't dance and I've never even considered asking a… a girl to something before! Blimey, I'm doomed." Harry said, flopping down on the couch in his godfather's living room.
Sirius chuckled, enjoying his godson's innocent humiliation at the prospect of dancing with a girl. "There's not anyone you fancy, Harry?"
"Well… there's this one girl, I guess. She's the seeker for Ravenclaw. But we've never really spoken, I don't think she knows I-"
"Harry," Sirius interrupted, sitting down beside him. "I know you don't like to think about it, but everyone in this school knows you exist. You're Harry Potter for one thing, you're a very talented seeker, and you definitely proved yourself in that First Task. She knows who you are, and I'll bet she would say yes if you asked her. I bet anyone would. Shame you got James's looks, otherwise you would be the whole package." He said, chuckling as Harry pushed him.
"This is not a joking matter, Sirius. How do I ask her? Girls… they travel in packs. I don't want to ask her around all her friends, they giggle too much." Harry said, standing up and pacing the room.
Sirius barked a laugh and Harry shot him an exasperated look, slightly annoyed that his godfather was finding humor in his humiliation. "Are you serious!"
"Why, yes, I am," Sirius replied with a sly smile, receiving a pillow to the head following the statement, and causing Sirius to laugh harder.
Remus walked into Sirius's living quarters and Harry ran up to meet him. "Remus, help me. I've gotta find a date to this stupid ball and learn how to dance!"
"Why are you asking me and not your godfather? As many girls as Sirius dated in Hogwarts, I'd think he would be able to give you better advice than I could." Remus said with a playful smirk at Sirius.
Sirius rolled his eyes and Harry gave him a betrayed look. "You dated girls while you were at Hogwarts?"
"Well, yes, Harry, I do like women." Sirius said grinning, knowing that wasn't what his godson was implying, but enjoying joking around with him nonetheless. He walked up to Remus and Harry and ruffled Harry's hair.
Harry blushed, but persisted on. "Then you can help me! Please, Siri." Harry said, giving him his best puppy dog face.
"We can both help you," Sirius said, pulling on Remus's arm, who was trying to sneak over to the kitchen. "Remus can talk about the women I dated all he wants, but he's definitely more of a gentleman than I am, and that'd be good for you to know too."
"First things first, Harry, never try to ask a girl out by attaching a note to a stag's antler and sending him to chase her around…" Remus said, patting Sirius on the shoulder.
"Yeah, learned that one the hard way…" Sirius chuckled. Harry smiled, thinking of his dad chasing a girl around in his animagus form for Sirius. Then he had an idea.
"Wait, that might work!" Harry said, sitting down at the kitchen table and looking at his godfather..
"Well, Harry, most normal stags won't do that for you, so unless you know another animagus…" Remus trailed off, realizing what Harry meant and grinning at Sirius.
"Woah, wait a second. You want me to... Harry, what good will it do you if I help you ask a girl out? You've gotta do it by yourself eventually, you know." Sirius said, smirking.
"Oh, I'll do it myself this time. I just need you to distract her friends," Harry said, grinning. Remus started laughing and Sirius looked taken aback.
"Blimey, Harry! Isn't that inappropriate? A bunch of girls petting their professor…" Sirius said, looking disgusted.
"Well they're all in love with you anyway. Besides, they'd be touching Padfoot, not you." Harry said with a shrug.
"Come on, Sirius, do this for your boy." Remus said, patting Sirius on the back and laughing when Sirius shot him a betrayed look.
"Fine, I'll do it. Hell, when you asked for help, I thought you just wanted advice." Sirius said, slumping against the kitchen counter.
"Well I did, but this idea is better." Harry said, grinning. Sirius rolled his eyes, then turned into Padfoot. He walked over and nudged Harry's leg. "What, you want to do it now?" Padfoot walked out the door and then turned, as if expecting Harry to follow. "Blimey, I was thinking next week or something."
Padfoot barked and trotted on, and Harry ran after him, leaving Remus laughing to himself about the absurdity of the situation.
"Well, that's them," Harry mumbled, looking at the group of girls sitting together under a tree by the lake. Padfoot licked his hand before trotting off towards them. He barked a couple of times, walking slowly so as not to frighten them by the omen of death.
"Oh, a puppy!" A fifth year named Hannah squealed, running up to pet the dog, most of the girls following behind.
"Well this is it," Harry mumbled, walking up to the group surrounding Padfoot. "Hey Cho, can I ask you something… over there."
"Sure, Harry." Cho said. Harry looked at the dog for a second and could have sworn he saw it wink at him.
They walked towards the lake a bit. "So, Cho, I was er… well, would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Cho smiled at him. "Sure, Harry. It should be fun."
"Really?" Harry asked breathlessly, surprised that she said yes.
Cho giggled, much to Harry's annoyance, but nodded. "Yes really, I'll see you around." And with that she walked back over to her friends and Harry turned and walked the other way, hoping Padfoot would follow.
Soon the dog was trotting along his side again, looking up at him expectantly. Harry grinned at Padfoot, and decided to wait and tell him when they got back to his quarters.
"So I take it she said yes?" Remus asked when Harry and Padfoot came back through the portrait hole.
Sirius changed back and looked at Harry expectantly. Harry smirked. "Yep, I've got a date to the Yule Ball… now I just gotta learn to dance…"
Sirius and Remus both chuckled. "We'll leave that job to McGonagall." Sirius said, sitting down beside Remus on the couch.
"Actually, Professor McGonagall told our class that you were going to help teach, Siri." Harry said with a smug grin.
Sirius looked taken aback and Remus burst out laughing. "What? I haven't… Minnie!" Sirius yelled, storming back out the portrait hole, clearly looking to talk to McGonagall about the arrangements for dance lessons.
"The House of Godric Gryffindor has demanded respect from the wizarding world for centuries," McGonagall announced to the students in the now empty Great Hall. "As such, Professor Black and myself refuse to have you go to this dance looking like a babbling, bumbling, band of baboons."
"Try saying that five times fast," Fred whispered to George. Harry smirked at them, then looked back at his godfather and his professor. He noticed, despite being forced into the situation, that Sirius looked very relaxed, like he didn't have a care in the world.
"So, without further ado, we will show you how to waltz properly. Mr. Weasley, will you join me?" McGonagall asked, reaching for his hand.
Harry and the twins tried to stifle their chuckles at Ron's expense as Sirius walked to Hermione. "Will you accompany me, Mrs. Granger?" Harry had a feeling Sirius asked Hermione because she was the only girl in Gryffindor tower that didn't appear to fancy him.
"Now, Mr. Weasley, place your hand on my waist." McGonagall said, grabbing Ron's hand.
"Where?" Ron gaped at her. Harry and the twins were in a fit of laughter by this point and most of the girls were staring daggers at Hermione for being asked by Sirius to dance.
"My waist, Mr. Weasley. Come on." McGonagall said, moving his hand for him. "Mr. Filch, the music, if you will." Ron turned as red as his hair as she began dancing.
Harry looked over to his godfather dancing with Hermione, and he couldn't help but notice how graceful Sirius was on his feet; it was as if he'd been dancing his entire life. It looked like it came as easily as walking did.
"Alright boys, up on your feet! Find yourself a partner, let's go!" McGonagall yelled, not making any move to let go of Ron.
The boys continued to sit and watch and Sirius noticed this. "One moment, please, Mrs. Granger." He said as he walked towards Harry. "Mr. Potter, I believe you requested help in learning to dance."
Harry stared at him with wide eyes, not wanting to be the first boy to dance. "I- I'll just watch, thanks."
"Nonsense, Harry, you can't learn by simply observing," Sirius said with a smirk, pulling Harry towards the girls. "Here, Mr. Potter, why don't you ask Mrs. Patil to dance with you."
Harry shot Sirius a glare, before reaching his hand out to Parvati, who started giggling madly.
"That's it, now, boys, find your partner and let's begin." Sirius said, before walking back over to Hermione to continue the dance. All the girls shot up from their seats and the boys reluctantly walked over to practice.
After the lesson, Harry refused to talk to Sirius; Sirius, however, did not seem to mind and wore a smug smile, with an arm thrown around Harry's shoulders, for the entire walk back to his quarters.
Soon it was Christmas eve, and the Gryffindor boys were in their dorms putting on their dress robes.
"Bloody hell," Ron muttered, staring in horror at his dress robes.
"Well," Harry said, coming up beside him. "They match your eyes. Does it come with a bonnet?" He reached in the package from the store. "Aha! Can't forget that now can we?"
"Come off it, Harry, they're hideous!" Ron exclaimed.
"Come on mate, at least you got a date and you're going to the dance." Dean said, smirking at Ron.
"Yeah, that's right. Padma won't mind the robes too much." Seamus said.
"At least I'm not Hermione," Ron said, looking in the mirror again. "Poor girl, probably didn't get asked by anyone decent."
The other guys shared a look, aware that Hermione had been asked by someone, but they didn't want to make Ron feel any worse. "Come on guys, let's go," Harry said, stepping out the dorm room.
When the boys got down to the entrance hall, Harry searched desperately for Cho. He found her talking to Cedric Diggory, who had Fleur Delacour on his arm as well.
"Oh, hello Harry." Cedric said with a grin as Harry approached.
Harry smiled back and turned to Cho. "You look beautiful." He mumbled, smiling at her. She smiled and looked down at her feet before whispering a thank you.
"Ah, Mr. Diggory, Mr. Potter, and Mrs. Delacour, come this way, it's time to line up for the procession." McGonagall said, pulling their arms in the direction of the Great Hall.
They lined up and Harry noticed how oddly familiar Victor Krum's date appeared. "Hermione?" Harry asked, shocked. Ginny had told him that Hermione had a date, but he didn't realize it was Victor Krum.
"Hi Harry!" She said, beaming at him.
"H-Hi..." Harry said, still shocked at how beautiful she looked in her lavender robes.. However, before he had any time to consider it, they were walking out into the Great Hall, which had been decorated fantastically in light blues and silver. When they got to their places on the dance floor, Cho smiled up at him, grabbing his hand and placing it on her waist. Harry looked up fleetingly and made eye contact with Sirius and Remus, who were both dressed in handsome blue dress robes and smiling at him.
The music began and the four champions started to dance with their partners. Harry wasn't quite as poor of a dancer as he had been a few weeks prior, and he found he was actually having a decent time with Cho.
Soon the teachers and other students joined in; Professor Dumbledore danced with Professor McGonagall, Neville danced with Ginny, and Ron reluctantly danced with Padma.
The night continued on pleasantly, with everyone enjoying a delicious feast and listening to great music by The Weird Sisters. Halfway through the band's set, Cho pulled Harry off to the side. "Would you like to walk with me?" Harry nodded, and followed her out of the Great Hall.
They walked outside, onto the grounds, and Cho pulled him over to a bench in a corner. "Let's sit," she said, smiling gently. Harry sat down beside her and looked down, feeling a little awkward about being alone with a girl for the first time.
"Look, Harry…" she whispered after a moment of silence. "Mistletoe."
Harry looked up and before he could register what was happening, Cho had placed her lips against his and it felt so… different. Different to anything Harry had ever experienced, but he liked it; he didn't want to ever stop snogging the beautiful girl in front of him.
After what felt like hours, Harry noticed a muffled chuckling coming from behind them. He pulled away to see the backs of his godfather and Remus walking towards the Great Hall, who had no doubt been watching Harry snog Cho. He blushed and returned his gaze to Cho, who was giving him a knowing smile. "Don't worry about it, I know how father's can be."
Harry smiled to himself, not even upset that Sirius and Remus had interrupted him; Cho called them his father's, and that filled him with a warmth that no amount of snogging could create. "Yeah, I better go find them before they tell the entire school," Harry mumbled, chuckling. "I… I would like to see you again, though. Maybe the next Hogsmeade weekend?"
Cho smiled and nodded, and the two walked back inside to the Great Hall.
"Poor kid, we probably just ruined his first kiss…" Remus said with a chuckle. The two had returned to the Great Hall after accidentally interrupting Harry's snogging session with Cho.
"He'll thank us later, you saw him. He was practically eating her face off. He needs to practice his snogging." Sirius said with a smirk.
"What he probably needs, Padfoot, is to get the talk." Remus said with an evil grin. "We can't have him just snogging girls for fun, now can we?"
"Oh, I whole-heartedly agree, Moony. We need little Prongs to be safe, after all. Should we wait until after Christmas to give it to him?" Sirius asked.
"I say we take him back now and give it to him, it looks like he's just sitting with Ron over there anyway." Remus said, standing up and walking in that direction.
"Harry," Sirius said as they approached the table the two boys were sitting at. "We request that you join us in our quarters in thirty minutes time. Okay?"
Harry looked up at their mischievous grins nervously. "Er… sure, I'll see you then."
The two nodded down at Harry and then left to go prepare for their lesson.
"Ah, Harry, come in!" Remus said as Harry walked through the portrait hole, a little too enthusiastically for Harry's comfort. Sirius and Remus had changed out of their dress robes and were now clad in their nightshirts and pajama bottoms.
"Okay…" Harry said, staring wearily at his guardians but sitting down at the kitchen table regardless.
"Harry, we've decided that you need a little… how should I phrase this… guidance on the subject of love." Sirius said, smirking at Harry's face as it turned red.
"Which entails?" Harry asked, beginning to worry about the conversation.
"Oh, not much. Now, Remus is cooking hotdogs for a late night snack, would you like yours plain or in a bun?" Sirius said, his grin growing.
"You know, I really am tired, maybe we can-" Harry started as he tried to make a break for his bedroom; Sirius was too quick for him though, and locked all the doors in the surrounding areas.
"Sorry kid, Moony and I have some duties to fulfill. So sit down and tell me how you want your hot dog so we can get this show on the road." Sirius said, chuckling.
"I don't like hot dogs," Harry said with a grimace, wanting to go hide in his bedroom for the rest of the year.
"Oh? Well I would assume so with the way you were snogging Mrs. Chang earlier." Remus said, raising his eyebrows at Harry.
Harry shot him a glare and flushed red. Sirius barked a laugh and then turned back to Harry. "Remus, bring those hotdogs over. Harry, sit down."
Harry reluctantly returned to his seat and stared at his lap, desperately wishing to escape the situation.
"Okay, Harry, I have cut these hot dogs accordingly. We'll name this full-sized hot dog, oh I don't know, Padfoot-" he was cut off by a smack in the back of the head by Remus. "What, you want this one to be Moony? Well my friend, I beg to differ…"
Harry groaned and both of the older men chuckled. "We're only joking, Harry. Anyway, so boys are like hot dogs and girls are like the buns. They fit together perfectly, but only when the two people really like each other. Understand?" Remus started, changing the topic from whatever ridiculous speech Sirius was planning.
Sirius snorted and Remus shot him a look. "Some hotdogs like having multiple buns, but as I'm sure your godfather can tell you, it's not always the safest route to take."
Sirius smirked but turned towards Harry. "He's right, you gotta be careful with the buns you like. If you choose to do things with more than one bun, that's fine, but you need to be prepared and protected."
"Besides, James only went for one bun his entire life." Remus added.
"Really? He never dated anyone else?" Harry asked, surprised and also happy to hear a story about his parents.
"Nope, she was all he ever wanted. And I would say it worked out pretty well for Prongs, he got his bun and then he named me godfather to their cute little hotdog." Sirius said, chuckling.
Harry rolled his eyes again but, despite his humiliation, returned the smile to his godfather.
"But back to the topic at hand," Remus started, putting ketchup and mustard on the bun. "Say this bun had some type of disease. When the hotdog goes in the bun, he gets the disease too, and it's not a good situation for the hotdog to be in."
"Right, and then there's also the fact that I am way too young and handsome to be a god-grandfather, so just some extra incentive to be careful there." Sirius said, shooting Harry a sly smile.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Okay, I got it. Use protective spells and pick my buns out carefully. Are we done here?"
"Not quite," Sirius said with a grin. "I don't think you'll ever even get to this point if you don't get some advice on snogging first."
Harry looked indignant. "How long did you watch me?"
Remus shot a guilty look at Sirius before responding. "Only a minute or so, Harry. We were just surprised at first, and when it finally hit us that we probably shouldn't be watching we couldn't stop laughing."
"Oi, was I that bad?" Harry said, flushing again and looking at his lap.
"No, no. It was just a nice moment, Harry. It made us happy to see you happy." Sirius added quickly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "That being said, I've snogged my fair share of girls, as Moony has told you a few times now, and he has too, though he doesn't want to admit it. We want to help you so that when your lifelong bun comes along, you'll know what to do."
Harry rolled his eyes, but nodded. "Well what was so bad about it? From the receiving end it was pretty enjoyable."
Sirius barked a laugh. "Yes, it looked like you were enjoying yourself. Just, the main thing is to go slow. You looked like a dementor trying to suck out her soul."
Harry gaped at him. "I am done with this conversation."
"Fine fine," Sirius said with another laugh, unlocking all the doors. "But when she complains about being slobbered on, don't say I didn't warn you!"
Despite his red face and desire to leave the room, Harry smiled at him. "I'll take note of that. Goodnight, Padfoot. Goodnight Moony."
Once Harry was locked in his bedroom in Sirius's quarters, both Marauders started laughing. "Poor kid won't be able to eat a hotdog ever again." Remus said.
"Oh well, overall I think he had a pretty great night. And I did too… I'm looking forward to tomorrow." Sirius said with a fond smile towards Harry's door.
"His first family Christmas," Remus said with a nod. "I think he's going to love your present, Sirius."
"I hope so…" Sirius mumbled, looking down at the table top. "You wanna crash in my room tonight Moony? I'll sleep on the couch, that way we can all be together tomorrow morning."
"I'll sleep on the couch-" Remus started, being cut off by Sirius
"Nope, I insist. Just give me one second to get my toothbrush." Sirius said, walking into the master bedroom, Remus smirking after him.
