Disclaimer: No seriously, look at the previous ones, it's exactly the same as before.

Elhorir lover: Sweet, thank you lol.

MessrMarauder: Ah hey girl, How can anyone NOT love Cara. He's a sweetie all right.

Cardinal: Yes, I read your fic lol, very good deary. Glad you're liking this.

~*~ Chapter 11 – Nothing to write home about

Molly Weasley hummed quietly to herself as she dragged the damp rag around on the tabletop, scrubbing at particularly hard stains when Hedwig flew in through the window. Smiling as the bird perched herself on the back of one of the chair's she moved towards the owl, wiping her hands on her apron as she did.

A letter was tied to the bird's leg and she removed it as she handed the snowy owl a piece of bacon left over from breakfast off a plate by the sink.

She broke the wax seal that held the initials "H.P" on it and unrolled the piece of parchment, flicking the kettle on with her wand as she sat herself at the tabletop. It read:

"Hi Mr and Mrs Weasley,
Just me saying hey and replying to your letter, you really didn't have to send all those cookies but WOW were they nice.

University is great, especially now that I've settled in and everything, I'm even making friends. One friend in particular is very special to me. His name is Cara Faolan and he's in fact more then just a friend to me, he's my boyfriend.

Now either you've shattered a plate in shock or you're sat there going "I knew it!" Because that's what everyone else seems to be doing (sigh),

Cara and I have been going out for almost a month now, and it's been pure heaven. He makes me happy, complete even, so I REALLY want you guys and Remus to meet him. So I was wondering if he could come over with me for Christmas, as I'm not entirely sure if he has anywhere else to go. PLEASE say he can come over as I'm falling in love with him and I can't bear to leave him here by himself when I KNOW you guys will be so nice to him.

Anyway, I love you both and I hope to hear from you soon.

Love Harry x"

Placing the letter onto the table Molly couldn't keep the smile that threatened to erupt down. Standing to go to her kitchen cabinets she pulled out a spare quill and parchment from the odds and ends draw.

Settling herself down she conjured a bottle of ink and began writing her answer. This took her a good 20 minutes until finally she blew it slightly to dry and slipped it into an envelope, sealing it with a red wax stamp before sending Hedwig on her way.

Arthur Weasley walked down a few minutes later with his nose stuck in the Daily paper.

"Who was that owl dear." He asked as he kissed her on the cheek then sat down at the table.

"A very happy young man." She said cheerfully.

~*~

"It's quite simple really, it's just exploding snap without the fiery hell bit."

Cara eyed the plain muggle cards with a sceptical gaze before gingerly taking the cards from his smirking lover.

Harry resisted laughing out loud as the young werewolf carefully inspected the safe pieces of card. Obviously deciding they were safe he smiled and handed them back to his boyfriend.

"I reckon you could give Mad-eye Moody a ran for his money." The darker boy chuckled and Cara frowned.

"Who?"

"Never mind. So, you want to play?" Harry bounced a little causing the blonde to laugh and nod. Grinning, the young man began to deal out the cards into two piles face down until they each had half.

"Right now, instead of the card's exploding when they find a match you've got to slap your hand over the cards and shout 'SNAP!"

"Slap, shout, snap. R-right I think I've got it." Cara nodded affirmatively.

"Right, let's play muggle snap." They both picked up their piles and began slowly putting the cards' down, gaining momentum, as they became more daring.

Queen, king, two of spades, Ace, jack, Ace, 7 of hearts, Queen, queen. They both slammed their hands down laughing but Harry got there first.

"SNAP!"

"What? No!" Cara laughed as he clambered slightly over Harry's back as the other boy threw himself on top of the cards, laughing loudly until Hedwig flew through, a letter attached to her leg. He jumped up from the bed excitedly.

"I want to try again." The blonde pouted until he caught the smile on Harry's face.

"What is I-it?" He asked as he sat up on his knees, his boyfriend walking back over to the bed and sat in front of him. Cara leant on his shoulders, hugging him loosely around the neck.

"The answer from my adoptive mother. Here, listen...

"Dear Harry (And Cara even),
Oh you don't know how happy that makes me! I love you like my own child Harry and I have hated having to watch you suffer blow after blow in your life. To know you've found someone who you love and who loves you back brings a smile to my face.

As if you even need to ask, of COURSE Cara can come and stay with us. It's a big one this year. We have you (and Cara too, oh bless), the normal tribe of monkeys known as my children, Remus, Kingsley (only in the afternoon mind) and his family, Hermione of course, most of the Order (Dumbledore included) and, well against my wishes but the twins are adamant, even Mungdungus.

So you can introduce Cara to your whole family and friends, oh I know Remus is going to want to meet him, you're the closest thing he's had to a son so he's going to want to meet Cara (Don't worry Cara dear, he's lovely and likes chocolate so if you bribe him with that he'll like you instantly, but shh you didn't get that from me).

Well I very much look forward to seeing you two, you're arriving in a week right? Or is it two? Oh I can't remember old age is catching up on me.

Love you very much Harry and looking forward to meeting you Cara,

Molly Weasley xx"

Cara grinned as Harry finished the letter.

"She is exactly how I imagine a mother to be." He said. Harry looked back at his blonde boyfriend with a curious look.

"Well what about you? What about your mother?" He asked softly, stroking the golden strands out of the beautiful face.

Cara looked down into his lap sadly. Harry placed a hand over his and pulled it to his lips, kissing the pale knuckles gently.

"I was bitten w-when I was only 3...From w-what people tell me my father had left my mother when she was pregnant w-with me so she'd been raising me alone. Even after I w-was bitten she still held me close and sang to me, from what I can remember. But a y-year after my bite she was diagnosed with...with leukaemia."

His eyes grew glassy and Harry pulled him closer, a sad look on his face.

"She d-died when I was 5.Since then I've l-lived in an orphanage in Chicago...they, Um, well. I Suppose it was difficult raising a werewolf so t- they, er..."

The dark-haired boy placed his fingers under Cara's chin, lifting his face to his and placed a sweet kiss on the smooth lips.

"I'm sorry." He whispered but the werewolf merely shook his head.

"Don't be, n-not your fault. Besides, you know what it's like unfortunately so I k-know you're not patronising me." He smiled and Harry kissed him again.

"I've got you now anyway. I-it's alright." He whispered. He led back against the bed pulling Harry on top of him, kissing him slowly and meaningfully. The other young man returned the affections, stroking down the delicate face, neck and sides.

Cara slid himself further under Harry until the taller male was led between the blonde's parted legs. The darker young man jolted up in surprise at the new positioning and stared down at his mate.

Cara had never been this daring before, not that Harry ever minded. He liked their gentle kisses and loving holds. Suddenly here he was, beneath him and staring up at him sweetly.

"It's ok." The werewolf whispered causing Harry to kiss him passionately. They grew more and more confidant, hands exploring areas previously untouched and kisses reaching new heights.

One particular stroke caused the blonde to shiver as he gave a little moan. He raised a shaking hand to brush the hair out of Harry's emerald eyes.

The midnight haired male closed his eyes blissfully as the shaking fingers traced his face. Opening them he could see the nervousness in the amber gaze which made him kiss the boy lightly and sit up.

"You don't have to prove anything Cara, I will wait for when you're ready believe me." He whispered and knelt back onto his hunches. Cara sat up with him placing his hands on Harry's chest, feeling the racing heartbeat.

"But y-you have done so much for me..." He said quietly but Harry cut him off.

"Because I love you, not because I want to get laid." He chuckled which relaxed the young werewolf. He held out his arms to his boyfriend and embraced him tightly.

"You silly little wolf." He said affectionately. Cara chuckled against his chest as he blushed.

"Sorry, I-I'm used to doing stuff for people. As a werewolf it's expected of me to do whatever to s-show my gratitude to not being openly ridiculed." Harry frowned at this.

"Like what? You shouldn't have to do someone's bitch work just because some guy held back racist comments."

Cara looked down into his lap, blushing slightly and hiding the smile on his face. Harry always worried so much about him, he'd never had that before and it made him happy that someone cared that much for him.

"Oh nothing bad, housework and stuff. It's just...I-I want to be with you..." He whispered as his mate stroked his cheek.

"...But you're not ready yet. Don't force yourself Cara otherwise it would ruin the feeling behind it, no matter how strongly you love the person."

The werewolf looked at Harry thoughtfully as he seemingly considered his next words.

"Have y-you ever been with anyone?" He asked as he crawled into his boyfriend's lap, snuggling against him and laughing when Harry's eyes grew huge.

"Um...Lets talk about the weather, that'll be better yeah?" He stammered and Cara laughed.

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad. It's just I've n-never been with anyone so I'm curious."

The darker teen considered the words as he worried his bottom lip with his teeth. Sighing he stroked Cara's hair as gave in.

"Only two, both females."

"Was it nice, like in the movies?" Came the curious reply and Harry shrugged a little as he recalled the incidents.

"It was...ok...I suppose. Not candles and romantic music like the movies but it was good. A little ackward but it felt...nice do we really have to talk about this?" He said frantically making Cara laugh again.

"Ok, ok, but I believe it'll be special with y-you."

"Me too." Harry smiled and nudged the blonde's cheek with his nose.

~*~

Christmas was still a week away but Harry, Cara, Hermione and Ron were arriving on the Monday (Christmas Day being on the following Saturday) to stay at the Weasley's.

The rest of the Weasley brothers were arriving on the Tuesday, Ginny having broken up the week previous so she was already there. Percy, who had made amends with most of the family, was to join them. He and Harry still had a considerable amount of friction between them as a result of the letter Percy sent to Ron in fifth year.

Remus, Dumbledore and the other Order members that were coming on the Thursday so that the family had time to greet one another and set up beds for the expected quests.

For now though the Trio and Cara pulled up in Hermione's small red ford fiesta that she'd got for her 18th birthday from her parents.

"Well here it is, The Burrow." Ron said as he wound the window to breath the Country air in with a huge mocking inhale.

"Yep, still smells like cow pat." He coughed and the other three laughed. Opening the doors they all climbed out, Hermione grumbling about the mud on her wheels as Harry tapped the car bonnet to retrieve the luggage they'd brought with them.

"I like it, it's c-cosy." Cara said cheerfully as he took a shoulder bag from his boyfriend. Harry smirked as he threw Ron's luggage at him extracting an 'Ow, dick head' from the laughing red head.

"I thought the same thing when I first visited." He smiled and took Cara's hand in his, following behind Ron and Hermione as they argued all the way up to the door.

"So we singing then?" Hermione grinned and was rewarded with three smirks. Turning round she knocked and two minutes later a plump cheerful looking lady opened the door.

"WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The trio finished each with a 'ta da' while Cara blushed in the corner.

Mrs Weasley laughed and pulled each into a warm hug, commenting on height or haircuts.

"Oh Harry, your hairs getting awfully long, You know I have a pair of scissors I could..."

"Hi Mrs Weasley." He cut her off as he hugged her causing her to laugh.

"You're just as bad as Bill you are...Oh and Hello. You must be Cara." She said kindly turning to the beautiful blonde behind Harry.

"Well I must say, you do have good taste Harry." She laughed and Cara grinned a blushing smile.

"It's nice to f-finally meet you. Harry talks about his family a lot." He said and Mrs Weasley placed a hand either side of his face.

"Well aren't you darling? Ooh If I didn't know Harry would duff me up if I did I'd keep you in my pocket!" She cooed as she removed her hands. Cara's own darted up to hide his blushing cheeks as he smiled.

"I like her. She's s-so nice." He whispered to Harry as the raven-haired boy kissed his pink cheek.

"I think she likes you too. She used to scowl at my girlfriends, call it mother's instinct." He chuckled.

"Why don't you go place your bags upstairs while I go finish serving up tea. Arthur's in the Kitchen, so go so hi to your dad Ronnikins."

Ron blushed red and scowled slightly. Hermione and Harry grinned at him.

"Store that one away Cara, it comes in useful for future debates." Harry whispered to the werewolf, making him smile.

They all lugged their things upstairs as Mrs Weasley called up the stairs.

"Hermione and Cara you're in Ginny's room, careful she's in there now. Harry and Ron you've got Ron's old room."

"What!" Harry exclaimed quietly as he looked pitifully over at Cara who shrugged apologetically. Sighing he decided to comply to her wishes as he told his boyfriend he'd be right back whilst he and Ron made the journey to his room.

~*~

They all thudded down the stairs in loud, cheery conversation, Ginny now joining them as they walked into the decorated kitchen.

"Ah just in time. I'm sorry to separate you two boys," She addressed Cara and Harry, "But I believe Bill's bringing Fleur and I told them they couldn't share a room either, It's only fair."

"No it's alright Mrs Weasley, We understand." Harry said kindly as he pulled out a chair for Cara then sat down himself.

"So, Cara," Arthur said happily as he folded up his newspaper, "I hear that Severus has actually shown his humanity side and started making the Wolfsbane potion for you too? I think you should be applauded, he was ORDERED to make Remus's but he makes yours willingly."

Cara smiled slightly as he finished sipping his drink.

"We spoke b-briefly and I was honest so m-maybe he liked that, I don't know." He said in his usual soft-spoken accent. Harry squeezed his hand lovingly under the table.

"Well I for one think you're my favourite of Harry's partners!" Ginny called as the rest of the table laughed.

"Thanks Gin, just make me sound like I bring home a new model every week why don't you."

They continued talking well into the evening, Cara smiling the whole time as the family laughed, joked, and wound each other up. Harry had invited him into his family and for once he felt a part of something special.

~*~ If you want to read and review.