Part 7: Breakfast at 12 Grimmauld

As it were, Harry was tired at the end of the day so he went home to get some rest, deciding to visit his friends on Sunday.

Sunday morning found him sitting in the kitchen at 12 Grimmauld. He was drinking a cup of cocoa and waiting for the inhabitants of the house to awaken. He heard footsteps on the stairs and what sounded like a scuffle moving closer. With an amused smile on his face, he watched as the two people he'd come to talk to, walked into the kitchen faces glued together at the mouth and hands doing their best to touch and grope every part of the body they were currently on.

"I could always come back later, if you'd like." he chuckled. The two lovebirds jumped apart.

"Potter! What on Earth are you doing here so early in the morning?"

"It's nice to see you too, Severus." Harry grinned.

"Remus!" Severus looked at the man next to him. Remus chuckled and went to hug his surrogate godson.

"Harry what brings you by this Sunday morning?"

"I need to talk to you. It's kind of important."

"I'll leave then." Snape said. Harry's hand on his arm stopped him.

"Actually, I need to talk to you both."

"About what?"

"Relationships."

"Anyone in particular or in general?"

"A specific person. But I don't know how I feel about him."

"Tell me, Potter. Would you happen to be referring to my nephew, Draco?" Snape asked. Harry looked at him in shock.

"How'd you know?"

"I've always known." Snape replied. Harry's eyes grew even bigger behind his glasses. "Oh...don't worry. It's nothing anyone has said or done. He never talked to me about that part of his personal life and I respected his wishes. You see Harry, being a teacher, I make it a point to observe everyone and everything when you think I'm not paying attention. I would always catch him staring at you across The Great Hall during meals or in Potions classes. It was a cross between a should-I-teach-that-dumb-git-Potter-a-lesson-and-hex-him-into-the-next-millennium or should-I-grab-and-shag-that-green-eyed-Gryffindor-into-the-ground kind of look. I'm still convinced he was on the Quidditch team just so he could see your arse in those tight pants."

"Severus Snape!" Remus gasped, shocked.

"What? The boy does have a hot arse, if I do say so myself."

"And I'll thank you to keep your eyes and hands off my arse." Harry laughed, somewhat flattered but slightly disturbed at the same time.

"The only arse he better be touching is mine." Remus growled. Then he looked at Harry. "Let me mix up some breakfast, Harry, and we can talk more."

So over pancakes, Harry told them both about Draco's antics the last 3 weeks and how he felt about it.

"How did the two of you know you were for each other?"

"For me, I think it was after Sevvie saved my life after I got poisoned by a badly made batch of Wolfsbane."

"Not my fault of course. I was out of town on an Order assignment." Snape defended himself.

"I know, love." Remus placated him by patting his hand. Snape rolled his eyes but he was smiling like a love-sick fool.

"What about you, Sev?" Harry wondered.

"I don't know exacts, Harry. I just looked at him one day and claimed him as mine."

"You guys are not helping me at all." Harry sighed. Remus patted his shoulder before getting up to pour himself another cup of tea. Then he sat back down.

"Harry, what you need to realize is that love is not something you can put a time limit on or make happen overnight. If it happens it happens. There's no black or white, or who fell in love first or when it happened. It's one of those mysteries we have no control over."

"You think?"

"It's been said that for every person on the planet, there is a soulmate out there waiting for them to be found. You just have to trust your heart not to lead you astray."

"I'm still no closer to knowing how I feel about Draco." This time it was Snape's turn to pat his shoulder.

"It'll hit you one day, Harry. Then there will be no more hesitation. Just let events occur naturally. You can't force them."

"You're probably right, Sev."

"I'm always right!" Snape exclaimed. Remus and Harry both laughed.

"I better get back. Thanks for breakfast, Remus. See you at school, Sev." Then Harry Apparated back to a spot outside his flat before going inside.

"Harry?"

"Yes Aunt Petunia?"

"Hermione, Ron and the girls are here to see you." He headed into the living room.

"Well this is a surprise." Harry grinned, sitting down. Immediately he was attacked by Delila, Phoebe and Caroline.

"Do the thing, Uncle Harry!" they exclaimed.

"Only if it's okay with Aunt Petunia." Harry replied, looking at his aunt. He knew she was still uncomfortable with him doing magic around her but she was slowly coming to terms with it. The 3 Weasley children turned sad blue eyes on their muggle Aunt and she couldn't refuse them.

"Oh go on then." she smiled. "I'll just go make some tea." She headed into the kitchen. Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at the 3 soda caps and the empty soda can that had been resting on the coffee table.

"Proteaus Tarantallegra!" he cast. The soda can morphed into a little man, using the caps as shoes and a hat. Harry cast a music charm and the soda cap man did a little tap dance, to the delight of the children. He had just finished when his aunt returned with the tea tray and juice and cookies for the girls.

"Petunia, you'll be spending Christmas with us, won't you?" Ron asked.

"Oh Ronald - I'd love to. But a friend of mine and I are taking a trip to America." Harry was startled.

"What? When are you leaving?"

"We're leaving the on Friday and be there for about a month." She looked at the expression on Harry's face. "Oh Harry, don't look at me like that. You have your life, I have mine."

"I know but I feel like I've just gotten to know you."

"And I'm sorry for that. But you will always be my family, no matter where I am. Besides, I need to find my place in this world that I could never find with your Vernon and Dudley. I hope you understand." Harry went to her side and hugged her.

"I love you, Aunt Petunia. If I've never said it before, I'm saying it now."

"And I love you, you silly little freak. Your mum and dad would be proud of the wonderful young man you've become." She brushed his hair back from his forehead and placed a light kiss on the spot where his scar used to be. "Oh now we've done it. Hermione's in tears." she smiled. Harry looked over his shoulder for confirmation.

"Sorry. You guys look so sweet. I couldn't help it." she laughed, wiping her eyes with the tissue Ron handed her.

"So Harry, done Christmas shopping yet?" Ron wondered, changing the subject.

"Almost. I have a few things left to get."

"Are you going to get something for Draco?" his aunt asked.

"I probably should, eh?"

"Yes." The other 3 adults replied.

"I'll have to think about what to get him then."

The Weasleys spent another hour with Harry and Petunia before heading home.

Harry was laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling when his aunt knocked on his door.

"Come in."

"Harry, I'm turning in for the night. You going to be up much longer?"

"Yeah. Just thinking about what to get for a guy who has pretty much everything."

"Get him something unique."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Something that oozes his essence."

"Hmmm...that sounds possible. Thanks."

"Welcome, love. Don't stay up too long or you'll be tired in the morning."

"I won't. Night." She smiled and left his room. He went back to thinking.

Author's Note: The Dancing Can Man is my tribute to the movie "The Golden Child" with Eddie Murphy.