"Bugger all," Harry mumbled as he slipped down the spiral staircase of the boys' dormitory. He was happy that Tonks and the Weasleys had come to Hogwarts to celebrate Christmas with them, but it felt so much emptier without Sirius. "Bugger all," he repeated, louder this time, and flopped onto the couch near the fireplace. He was thankful that other Gryffindors, who would rag on him for being down on Christmas morning, went home for the holidays. "Bugger all," he whispered again, jumping as someone spoke from behind him.
"Happy Christmas to you too," the tired voice said, causing a smile to arrive at Harry's lips as he jumped over the couch to greet his visitor.
"Happy Christmas," he beamed as Lupin's tired expression lit up, no doubt by the joys of the season.
"I miss him too," Lupin whispered, causing a frown to flit across both of their faces.
"Yeah," Harry said, a frown creasing his forehead.
"But," Lupin said, trying to cheer up the sixteen year-old wizard, "I have a present for you."
Harry grinned. "I have one for you too," he said. "Wait here, I'll go get it."
Lupin sat down on the faded couch and pulled out a small box from his pocket. He barely had time to wonder what Harry had got him before the boy was bounding back into the common room carrying a large box wrapped in red.
Harry could see just how happy the older wizard was and put the gift on the scarlet couch beside him.
"Er, here's your present," Lupin said, at a loss for words, as he handed over the small box.
"Thanks," Harry said, not paying his own gift much attention. "Open yours first," he said, sitting on the arm of the overstuffed couch.
Lupin nodded, unwrapping the box carefully. He looked up as Harry gave an exasperated sigh. "Alright, fine," he grumbled, and tore off the shiny red paper with vitality until he uncovered a small wooden chest, roughly the size of a Muggle boom box. He looked questioningly at Harry, who nodded, egging him on. As Lupin opened the lid he gave a gasp as the aroma of chocolate hit him. Not only was it full of different kinds of chocolate, but a book lay on top.
"'A Werewolf's Guide to Chocolate'," he breathed. "Harry, how on earth –?"
"So you like it?" Harry asked eagerly, nearly jumping up and down in his seat.
"Like it?" Lupin repeated in disbelief, "I love it!"
Harry beamed.
"Now it's your turn," Lupin said, safely closing the lid of his chest of chocolates.
Harry at last looked down at the box in his hand. It was about the size of a ring box, and he looked up at Lupin with a look of fake shock on his face.
"Isn't it a little early for this?" Harry asked.
Lupin pulled a face. "Ha, ha, very funny," he said sarcastically as Harry laughed. "Just open it."
Harry obliged and opened the box to find two keys on a key chain. He looked up at Lupin. "What are these for?" he asked, picking them up to examine them more closely. One looked almost ancient, and the other, brand new. The newer one had both sides cut.
"Well," Lupin said, "one is the key to the Black's house, which now belongs to you." Harry looked up, disbelievingly. "And the other one is your car."
"A car?" Harry exclaimed, jumping up. "Are you serious?"
Lupin laughed at the excitement written all over Harry's face. "Dead serious," he replied, getting up off the couch. "Did you want to see it?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"Do I ever!" Harry exclaimed, following Lupin out of the portrait hole and to the one eyed witch.
"I parked it in Hogsmeade," he said tapping the witch. "Dumbledore's orders. Dissendium."
Harry and Lupin followed the long path to Honeydukes cellar. "It's a holiday," Lupin said happily, breaking the silence, "so we won't get caught." He gave Harry a wink, and opened the trap door of the shop.
In next to no time as the two of them stood in front of it. Bright red, and top down, Lupin was sure the boy was going to have some kind of fit. As Harry slid into the driver seat, his face fell.
"What's the matter?" Lupin asked him, sliding into the passenger seat.
"I don't have my license yet," he said, looking heartbroken. To his immense surprise, Lupin laughed.
"That's why I'm here," he said, fastening his seatbelt. "Now start her up, let's get you going!"
Around lunchtime, Harry and Remus arrived back at Hogwarts from their driving lesson. Laughing to themselves, they joined the Weasleys, Tonks, Neville, Kit, Nia, and Adrien at the Gryffindor table.
"Happy Christmas," Mrs. Weasley greeted them, rather stiffly, which told everyone that she disapproved of Remus' Christmas present to Harry.
"Happy Christmas," Harry said cheerfully, taking a seat next to Kit.
"So, how was the driving lesson?" Neville asked as Remus took the seat opposite Harry.
Harry and Remus gave each other a look and burst out laughing.
"We, uh, ran over a squirrel," Remus admitted shamefully.
"No, we ran over a whole clan of them," Harry corrected him, his laughter redoubling.
"Good!" Kit exclaimed. "Those filthy, evil, buggers..."
With that, she got up from the table, muttering under her breath. The rest of them laugh even harder.
"So you can drive now?" Nia asked him as Harry helped himself to a baked potato, still chortling.
"Not officially," Harry replied, dishing out peas. "I have to take a theory test, then a road test."
"And you also need a guardian sign the piece of paper," Mrs. Weasley added sternly around the gravy boat.
"Oh, yeah," Harry said, cutting his turkey. "Remus said it was alright with him."
"Wicked," Neville breathed, spilling the peas that were on his fork into his lap.
"Yeah, it is," Ron agreed laughing as Neville cleaned himself up. "Hey, mum, what would you –"
"Absolutely not," she interrupted him. "And that's my final word on the subject."
Ron returned to his lunch, shooting a jealous look at Harry. He smiled when Harry winked at him.