A/N: Christmas bells are ringing…Christmas bells are ringing…

Chapter 29- Black Tidings for a New Year

Every sweet has its sour, every evil its good- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Christmas morning dawned bright, the sunlight dancing with the dust as it poured in from the window. Severus awoke to the smell of bacon and ham. He turned over and found himself alone in the bed. He sat up, groaning at the stiffness in his back. He eyed the end of the bed for gifts and scowled at the note that sat in their place. He reached over and snatched up the paper, flicking it open with a thin finger.

Come to breakfast when you get up. We'll open presents after Elias gets here. No whining, or you'll be last to open yours.

Severus sighed and swung his long, pale legs over the side of the bed. He got up, tossing the note back on the bed, and made his way to the shower.

Samantha set a plate of pancakes on the table and surveyed the spread. She smiled and looked at the clock on the wall. 10:30. As if on cue, the front door opened, the bells on the wreath jingling merrily. Samantha grinned as she stepped into the hallway.

"Happy Christmas, Elias!" she said as Draco cancelled his Disillusionment charm. He smiled at her.

"Hi Mum," he said. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and sniffed appreciatively at the air. "Smells wonderful."

"Thank you, sir," she said with a bow of her head. "The other two should be down in a minute. We'll eat breakfast and then open presents."

"Now, that's what I'm talking about," said Harry as he came down the stairs, his jet black hair still wet. "Food and presents. Doesn't get much better than that, really." Draco smirked at him.

"I completely agree," said Severus as he appeared at the top of the stairs. "However," he said, raising an eyebrow at Samantha, "I don't know if I like them in that order."

"Well, too bad," said Samantha, hands on her hips. "That's the way we're doing it, so come on in and get something to eat. I think I fixed enough food to feed a small army."

After breakfast, they all went to the drawing room, where the Christmas tree still sparkled with conjured fairy lights. The boys sat on the floor, while Samantha sat in the chair behind them. Severus knelt down and picked up the first package.

"James," he said, tossing the box to Harry. He tossed a similar one at Draco, who caught it on reflex. Severus smiled as the two boys ripped off the paper. They each pulled out a set of exquisite dress robes, the silky material sliding over their fingers.

"You both have so much black," said Samantha as Harry stood and slipped his emerald green robes over his clothes. "I thought the blue would go well with your eyes, Elias." Draco sat on the floor, running his hand over the midnight blue robes. Harry frowned a little, taking his robes back off.

"You okay, bro?" asked Harry softly. Draco shook his head and set the robes on the floor beside him.

"Yeah," said Draco. "Just reminded me of something, that's all." He looked up and gave Samantha a small smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, love," said Samantha gently. She looked back up at Severus, who ran a hand through his hair and sighed softly. He picked up a long, thin box and smiled. He got up and handed it to Samantha.

"For you, my dear," he said. She took the box from his hand and eyed it carefully, smiling slyly at him.

"You didn't get me a dagger, did you Severus?" she asked with a smirk. Severus scoffed playfully at her as she slid a finger under the flap of the paper. The paper fell away, revealing a black velvet box. She opened the cover and gasped, looking back up at Severus.

"It's gorgeous," breathed Samantha. She ran her fingers softly over the silver bracelet, tracing the edges of the emeralds on the chain. Severus grinned and turned back to the tree. He flicked his wand at a huge stack of gifts, levitating them over to Harry. Harry stared wide-eyed as Severus levitated a similar stack to Draco.

"Have at it, boys," said Severus with a wave of his hand. Draco and Harry grinned widely and tore into the boxes, throwing paper in every direction. Severus sat on the couch with a package, smirking at the exclamations of delight from the boys. Samantha stood and waded through the paper to sit next to Severus.

"I hope you like that," she said, pointing to the present in Severus's lap. He smiled and unwrapped the gift, lifting two books from the paper. He ran his hand over the black leather cover of one, feeling the embossed phoenix set into the front. He opened it and read Samantha's inscription:

Be great in act, as you have been in thought;
Let not the world see fear and sad distrust
Govern the motion of a kingly eye:
Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
Threaten the threatener and outface the brow
Of bragging horror: so shall inferior eyes,
That borrow their behaviors from the great,
Grow great by your example and put on
The dauntless spirit of resolution.

Severus leaned over and kissed her.

"Thank you, Sam," he said softly. She ran a hand through his hair as he thumbed through the silver edged pages of the journal and picked up the rare Potions text she had implored Florish and Blotts to order for her, due to it being one of the very few Potions texts that Severus didn't already own. She watched as Harry inspected the pieces of his new marble chess set as he unwrapped a Chocolate Frog. Draco was flicking his wand in and out of the black leather holster strapped to his wrist.

"Take all your stuff upstairs, James," said Samantha as she banished several large pieces of paper. "Elias, you'll probably have to shrink your stuff." She stood and glanced under the tree for any leftover gifts. She spotted a small one near the back wall. She frowned and summoned the package, looking at the nametag.

"Elias, this is for you," said Samantha. He gave her a strange look as he took the package. He looked at the handwriting on the tag and grinned a little.

"I know who this is from," he said. He unwrapped it and read the title of the book. He burst out laughing.

"She got it," he said as he handed the book to Harry. Harry read the title and snorted, shaking his head.

"The Falcons," said Harry disdainfully. "I can't believe she likes them too." He gave the book back to Draco. Severus raised an eyebrow at Draco's grinning face.

"Who is this 'she'?" he asked. Draco's smile faded a little as he glanced quickly at Samantha. He cleared his throat nervously.

"It's - uh - it's from Rachel," he said. He quickly picked up his stuff, putting it all in one box and shrinking it. Samantha raised an eyebrow at Severus, who looked grim. Harry busied himself with banishing the rest of the paper.

"Interesting," smirked Samantha. She chuckled as Draco turned sharply to look at her, his eyes wide. "James, would you be so kind as to assist me with dinner? Kretcher seems a little - well, resistant to helping me with the food." She gave him a meaningful look.

Harry nodded, flicking his eyes to Severus, who was eyeing Draco carefully. "Sure. Let me get this stuff upstairs and I'll be back down." He flicked his wand at the pile of gifts and levitated them behind him as he followed Samantha out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Severus stood from the couch. He crossed his arms in front of him and motioned with his head for Draco to sit. Draco sat stiffly, his hands clenched together in his lap. Severus sighed.

"I cannot, in all fairness, tell you not to pursue this young woman," said Severus softly. "However, I want to make sure you are completely aware of what could happen should you not be vigilant in your day-to-day actions." Severus began to pace slowly, running a hand through his hair. "This is an enormous risk you're taking, Draco."

"We'll be careful," said Draco firmly. "I'm not about to be responsible for another person dying because of me, especially her. Rachel knows we have to keep our relationship a secret for now. She knows to be careful in -- "

"You must be more than careful," said Severus sternly, swooping down on Draco where he sat. "The tiniest slip of the tongue could spell her death and yours. The smallest crack in your Occlumency walls, and you will join the souls of all those we have already lost to the cause and will wait to meet her there after her gruesome death. Do you truly comprehend the consequences should you fail to protect her?" Draco held Severus's gaze, his face paling slightly.

"I will not fail," whispered Draco. "I will do everything to keep her safe."

Severus held Draco's gaze before he nodded once and resumed his pacing. "Draco, I spent the better part of my life protecting Sam from certain death. Death that would have been at my hand." Severus sneered. "Voldemort does so love his psychological manipulations. It is tiring. It is relentless. You can never let your guard down completely, even when you're alone with Rachel and you think no one is watching. However," he said, stopping in front of Draco, looking directly into his eyes.

"It is very worth it," said Severus softly, smiling a little. "All the trouble, all the fear and anxiety and arguments-- the rewards are more than worth it all. Sam has been my life ever since I met her. She kept me sane after I had to return to Voldemort's service, kept me from giving up when things seemed so bleak and impossible. I completely understand the need for a woman who will be there for you no matter what and love you for who you are, no matter what." He knelt down in front of the boy, taking Draco's shoulders in his hands. "But Draco, you must be completely dedicated to being more than careful. For her sake and for your own." Draco nodded.

"We will be, Dad," said Draco, his voice intense. "We will be." Severus sighed, giving Draco a small smile.

"That's my boy."

Dinner was a feast beyond any kind of reckoning. Samantha and Harry had racked their brains, thinking of every delicious dish they could remember from feasts at Hogwarts. Samantha had to stretch the table out in order to make room for all the dishes. Everything was perfect.

The four of them sat around the table, eating to their heart's content and talking of inconsequential things, like Quidditch and memories of Hogwarts at Christmas. After they had finished the main course, Samantha got up to fetch the many varied desserts that she had made: treacle tart, along with chocolate cake, homemade ice cream, and plum pudding. Draco reached over to serve himself some tart. As he went to put the utensil back in the dish, he suddenly dropped it. It clattered loudly on the table as he cradled his arm to his chest, swearing softly. Severus stood quickly and pulled Draco up out of his chair.

"Shields up!" he said sternly as he helped Draco out of the room and down the hall to the front door. Draco hastily removed his cloak from by the door, pulling from his pocket a small, black square. He unshrank it, donning his black Death Eater robes and his white mask while dropping his winter cloak on the floor. Harry came down the hallway, a grim but determined look on his face. He picked up Draco's cloak, folding it over his arm.

"Patronus Rachel for me, bro," said Draco as he tapped the top of his head, the Disillusionment charm covering him completely. Harry nodded and hurried upstairs.

"Vigilance, Elias," said Severus as he opened the door, letting in the frigid December air. A cloak swished out into the night and Severus closed the door. He placed his palms on the door and rested his forehead against the wood, mentally rehearsing his own checklist of calming his mind and setting up his Occlumency walls, trying in some way to will the thoughts to Draco. He felt delicate hands wrap themselves around his waist.

"He'll be okay," whispered Samantha. She rested her cheek against his back. "We just have to wait and hope for the best."

"How did you do this for so long and not go mad?" asked Severus softly. Samantha chuckled sadly.

"Oh, my love, I was inconsolable when you would go to meetings," said Samantha. "But ultimately, I had faith in your abilities. I knew you would do everything you could to keep us safe. I simply had to believe that you would always come back to me." Severus turned to her, taking her face in his hands.

"I love you, Samantha," whispered Severus. He pressed a tender kiss to her lips. They broke apart at the sound of stomping on the stairs.

"Why in the bloody hell is there no parchment anywhere in this house?" growled Harry angrily as he went down the hall to the library. Samantha grinned.

"There should be some on the table in there, James," said Severus as he embraced Samantha tightly. "Let's go to the drawing room, Sam. I need somewhere to sit and think."

The hours passed slowly. Severus sat in one of the chairs near the fireplace, staring morosely at the flames flickering in the grate. His elbows rested on the arms of the chair, his thin pale fingers tapping against one another restlessly before his face. Samantha was lying on the couch, reading one of Harry's new defense books that Severus had given him that he had left on the table. Harry stood stiffly at the window, watching the street anxiously. The clock in the hallway chimed eleven.

"It's Christmas, for Merlin's sake!" exclaimed Harry suddenly. "Damn Voldemort and his stupid gatherings! Just because all he has for company is that bloody snake!"

Samantha chuckled. "He'll be back soon, James," she said. "Don't let your frustration get the better of you, love."

Harry sighed and leaned on the window sill. Samantha got up, placing the book back on the table and left the room.

"Did you patronus Rachel, James?" asked Severus, still gazing into the fire. He dropped his hands from in front of him so that they hung limply past the end of the chair's arms.

"Yeah," answered Harry. He turned to look at Severus. "I also sent one to Ginny telling her that he was summoned." Severus's lips thinned into a white line. He turned to meet Harry's gaze.

"How long has she known, Harry?" asked Severus calmly. Harry held his gaze.

"Since Ron and Hermione moved back to the Burrow," said Harry. "She didn't believe their story about missing the Burrow, so when she wrote me, she asked. I told her the truth." Severus nodded.

"I've always thought that of all the Weasleys, Ginevra was the most level-headed," said Severus. "Although, that's not saying a whole lot." Harry smiled at him. Severus returned a grin briefly, his face falling in a look of grief.

"How I wish you boys didn't have to live in the same fear I did when I was young," he said softly. He shook his head, turning back to face the fire.

"It was unavoidable," said Harry, turning back to the window. "Elias and I chose to be directly involved in the war due to our circumstances. Ginny and Rachel understand that, just as Mum understands it. They chose to fall in love with renegades who are toeing the line of life and death, and neither of us can push them away for their own protection." He scoffed.

"Dumbledore always said that love was this infamous 'power the Dark Lord knows not' that I had," said Harry. "In some strange way, they're helping us win this bloody war. Elias and I just have to keep them alive."

Suddenly, the front door opened and shut quickly. Severus was up like a shot and down the hall. Harry ran after him, almost colliding with Samantha in the hallway. The three of them froze in shock at sight that met them.

"Rachel Ophelia Palmer!" shouted Samantha. "What are you doing here?"

"And more importantly," said Severus silkily, his fury readily apparent, "How did you get into this house?"

Rachel's face paled at Severus and Samantha's glares. She looked quickly to Harry, who was just as pale and nervously ruffling his hair. Severus nostrils flared as he spun around to look at Harry.

"How?" growled Severus menacingly. Harry dropped his hand and opened his mouth, but Rachel interrupted.

"Please, sir," she said. She recoiled slightly when Severus turned quickly to face her. "Remus gave me a slip of paper a while back with the address. Draco doesn't know that I'm here. I was hoping to drop by his apartment later, but then I got Harry's patronus -"

"Did you tell her to come here, James?" said Severus as he eyed Rachel suspiciously.

"No sir, I did not," said Harry. He jumped at the sound of the floo firing in the kitchen. He ran to see who it was, wand drawn.

"Oh yes, about that…" said Rachel, wincing as Harry shouted. Harry walked out of the kitchen clutching another hand in his, his face somber. The person pulled back, not wanting to be seen, but Harry shook his head and pulled on the hand. A mess of shockingly red hair appeared, framing an ashen, freckled face. Severus groaned, rubbing his face with his hands.

"This is a nightmare," he muttered. He looked between the two girls and sighed heavily. "I assume the two of you are in this together?"

"Yes sir," whispered Ginny and Rachel. Harry looked at Rachel, his eyes widening. His face paled further as he went and grabbed her shoulders.

"Rach, did you remember your disillusionment?" said Harry frantically. Rachel's eyes went wide in horror.

"Oh my God," whispered Samantha. Harry sprinted into the drawing room, dimming the lights as he ran to the window. Severus appeared right behind him, looking over Harry's head. They stood perfectly still for several minutes as their eyes darted back and forth from the direction of the park to the front door.

"I don't see anyone," said Harry softly. "I don't want to risk a detection spell."

"No," said Severus. He shook his head slowly. "We just have to hope they aren't out there when Elias comes home." He turned and waved his wand, lighting the room once again. Samantha stood in the doorway, glaring at Rachel and Ginny, who were sitting together on the couch. He sighed and addressed the girls.

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Rachel patronused you about this little jaunt, Ginevra. Is that correct?" Ginny nodded morosely. "Do Molly and Arthur know you're here?"

"Yes sir," said Ginny. "I told them I was coming to see Harry for a little bit, since he had told them he couldn't come over for Christmas dinner last week."

"Indeed," said Severus sternly. "And you, Rachel? Anyone to keep tabs on your whereabouts that we need to contact?"

"No, I have my own apartment in Hogsmeade," said Rachel. "Remus checks up on me every now and then, but not often. The last time he came by was when Draco and Ginny were over for lunch. He hasn't been by since."

"Typical," muttered Severus. He held out his hand. "I will need that slip of paper, if you please."

Rachel pulled out a small bit of parchment and handed it to Severus. He inspected the handwriting closely before walking over to the fireplace and burning the paper to ashes. He laughed dejectedly, rubbing his temple.

"The fact that Albus Dumbledore was sorted into Gryffindor is astonishing," he said. He drew his wand and shot his patronus through the wall. Harry went and sat between the girls on the couch, placing an arm around Ginny. They all jumped a minute later when a bright white wolf shot through the wall and stood haughtily in front of Severus. Severus sneered slightly but touched the tip of his wand to the patronus. He quickly flicked open the parchment and scoffed.

"Of course," he said. "Damn it, Albus!" He crushed the parchment in his hand and threw it into the fire. He turned back calmly and addressed the four shocked faces staring at him. "It seems we have a secondary Secret Keeper."

"Are you telling me that my fiancé and my cousin are both Secret Keeper for the 12 and I never knew!" cried Samantha. "How in the world did the two of you keep this from me?"

"Well," said Severus. "I was under strict orders not to divulge the information unless some extreme circumstance necessitated it. I can only assume Lupin was told the same, as I didn't even know about his being secondary Keeper."

The door opened and shut again, followed by a loud thud in the hallway. Severus ran out of the room, Rachel hot on his heels. Severus cancelled Draco's disillusionment and his face paled.

"James, get upstairs and fix a room," said Severus harshly. Harry pulled Ginny with him up the stairs to the second floor, while Severus carefully removed Draco's Death Eater robes. Samantha knelt down beside him and started running diagnostics.

"Severus, I need him in a clean bed," said Samantha. "He has too many open wounds for him to be lying on this dirty floor." She ran her wand over one of the many lashes across Draco's chest, closing it with a soft incantation. Draco moaned in pain. Rachel grabbed his hand, brushing his hair back.

"Hey love, it's me," she said softly. Draco's eyes fluttered as he groaned again.

"Rachel," he gasped. "Rachel, what --"

"Shh, don't talk," said Rachel as she looked at Samantha with tears in her eyes. Rachel sniffed and wiped her face quickly. "If you need me to brew potions, I can." Severus looked up at her and nodded once.

"Blood replenisher and Invigoration Draught, to begin with," said Severus. "Get Harry to show you where the lab is. He can help you brew." Rachel jumped up and ran to where Harry and Ginny were. Severus stood and carefully levitated Draco's bloody body off the floor, Samantha following his movement and healing Draco's cuts as well as she could. Severus moved quickly up the stairs, careful not to cause Draco any pain. The three of them reached the second floor, where Ginny ushered them into an unoccupied room. Severus gently sat Draco down on the bed.

"Ginny, if you could help me," said Samantha as she moved to the side of the bed. "Some water and some clean cloths, if you please. Quickly now." Ginny rushed out of the room. "Severus, go help Rachel and Harry. It'll go faster that way. I'm also going to need some bruise-healing paste and some wound-cleaning potion." Severus swept silently out of the room. Samantha held back her tears as she removed Draco's torn shirt, revealing bloody lashes and bruises criss-crossing across his chest. Severus returned with some vials, setting them on the bedside table. Ginny came in soon after with a bowl full of warm water and some washcloths.

"I'll bring the potions down as we get them done," said Severus softly. Samantha nodded at him, and began to once again concentrate on healing the many cuts on Draco's torso.

The five of them stayed up all night, rushing back and forth between where Draco and Samantha and the potions lab on the fourth floor. Ginny patronused Molly and Arthur, telling them she was spending the night at Headquarters to help with Draco. Rachel and Harry looked haggard after they were done brewing, large black circles visible under their eyes. Samantha had kicked them out of the room so that she could concentrate, so the three of them sat out in the hallway. Severus helped Samantha clean wounds and administer the potions, which put Draco into a deep healing sleep. Severus rubbed his eyes wearily.

"These potions will keep him out until late morning or early afternoon tomorrow," said Severus softly. Samantha sighed, brushing Draco's cheek with her hand.

"Something happened, Severus," said Samantha. "Something bad."

"That is what worries me," said Severus. "What did they want that Draco doesn't have? Important enough to punish him for, but not enough to kill him outright." He shook his head, glancing up at Samantha's weary face. "Get some rest, love. I can watch him for a while."

Samantha nodded and stood, stretching her arms and back. She walked over to the door and opened it to see the other three kids sitting on the floor, sound asleep. She smiled at the haphazard way their heads and necks were lying on each other's shoulders.

"Severus," whispered Samantha. Severus looked up, giving her a questioning look. She flicked her head over to the hallway, motioning him to see. He rose and stood behind her, scoffing slightly at the sight.

"They'll all be sore tomorrow," he whispered.

"If we wake them, they'll want to stay up," said Samantha. "They need to sleep." She thought for a moment, drawing her wand silently. She conjured three cushioned sleeping bags, lying them end to end in the hallway. She gently levitated Rachel gently to one, while Severus lifted Ginny, placing them softly onto the makeshift beds. Samantha lifted Harry and put him in the sleeping bag nearest to the door. She tucked him in, brushing his hair back off his forehead.

"Sweet dreams, child," whispered Samantha, brushing a hand against his cheek. Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of his young face. Oh, Lily…how I wish you were here. You would know what to do now. She heard the door to the bedroom where Draco was sleeping shut softly behind her. She stood and dimmed the lights in the hallway before walking to Severus's room.

A/N2: Samantha's inscription comes from Shakespeare's King John, Act V, Scene 1. Next chapter, we find out what Voldemort wanted…