I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter nineteen — The Holidays

It was finally Christmas Holidays and Harry Potter was going home for two weeks. He was so excited he forgot to be cruel to Draco Malfoy.

"I promise to send you all presents for Christmas," he told Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean. "Uncle Remmy said he'd take me to Diagon Ally to get everything.

Ron and the twins were staying for the Break. So was Percy but that was because it would be suspicious to allow only one son come home. The professors were told that their parents were going abroad to visit Charlie. Harry didn't know if it were true or not but he really didn't care.

He sat with his other three friends on the train eating candy and planning their next prank. The ride didn't seem to be that long because they were having so much fun. Hermione passed by their compartment and gave them a glare as though she didn't approve of what they were doing. Harry just smiled at her and with one last glare that she saved just for Harry, she walked away to find some of her Ravenclaw friends.

"Harry, just face it. She hates your guts. You'll never get her to like you again," Dean said with a laugh.

"I get her to like me again. I promise you that it'll happen before we leave Hogwarts. I just have to charm her a little," Harry just kept smiling.

"You're going to use magic on her to get her to like you. Harry, that doesn't make much sense." Neville was obviously confused.

"No Nev, he wants to make himself appealing to her. You purebloods can a bit dense at times," Seamus explained.

"Oh. I still think that he should use magic on her." The other boys just shook their heads.

Soon enough, they were at the station. Harry threw himself into Remus who hugged him back. He picked up Harry's trunk and put it in the trolley that he had. He led Harry to a waiting car. The driver was in a bad mood and it worsened when he saw Hedwig. He never had good luck when he taxied those people.

"Tonks is going to be staying at our place for awhile. She got into trouble with her roommate and was kicked out of her apartment." Remus had a little smile on his face.

"Great, she is so much fun. I can't tell you both about all the pranks my friends and I pulled. We never even got caught for any of them. Snape tried to get us but he never could, McGonagall and Snape are fighting all the time now. Last week, was the worst. A whole wing was nearly blown up because they got into a fight while Snape was brewing something." Harry went on and on about the feud his professors were in.

When they got home, Harry gave Tonks a hug. The boy was a lot more affectionate now than before he went to Hogwarts. She saw that his eyes were still green while his face was a little different from the last time she saw him.

"Harry, what's wrong with your eyes? Can't you change them anymore? I like the violet one's you had from a while ago." She had a worried look on her face.

"They haven't been able to change since Snape poisoned me. I tried but it hurts when I try. I thought I would give it time and I could do it again." Harry really didn't like that look.

"That's what supposed to happen but it shouldn't hurt when you try. I think we should take you back to St. Mungos. Just for a check-up."

Harry turned to Remus. "Please, Uncle Remmy, don't make me go to the hospital. I hate it there." Harry was really good at pleading. Remus commended him for his ability.

"Sorry, Cub, if are hurt we did to get you checked over. St. Mungos is the only place to get that done. It's late, so Harry, get something to eat and then you're going to bed. We can get take go tomorrow afternoon."

Through a yawn, he tried to say that he wasn't tired. After a few sandwiches and a cup of hot chocolate, Harry was asleep in the room he was sharing with Remus.

Harry went to St Mungos the next day. The Healer gave him a potion that should work but he still wouldn't be able to change his eyes for a few more months. Later that day, Remus found himself cursed with blue hair that was identical to Tonks' hair. Remus should have expected revenge for making Harry go to the hospital.

On Christmas Ron woke to find a few presents from his friends and nothing from his parents. He expected it but it still hurt. He just had to learn to deal with it.

When he open the present from Harry he was a bit confused but followed the instructions that he was given.

A few hundred miles away, Neville was doing the same thing. He had several presents from his family and friends. He was happy to be where he was.

He too was confused by the gift Harry gave him but he too did as he was told. The gift went into his trunk so his gran wouldn't see it.

Seamus had loads of presents. He was a half-blood so he got both Muggle and wizard presents. He hugged his family and thanked them. He knew that they would never abandon him.

He laughed when he saw what Harry got him. He put his new things in his room still laughing. He knew that Potters were known to have a sense of humor and Harry was no exception. He put the item in his trunk.

Dean was woken early by his brothers and sisters. They all had gotten him some small trinket that they got with their allowances. His parents were Muggles so aside from what he got from his friends from Hogwarts were Muggle things.

He too laughed at Harry's gift. His parents thought that this Harry kid was a bit odd but then again most of the wizards they meet were on the odd side. Dean put it in his trunk like his other friends.

Harry smiled when he Saw his friends' reactions. He knew that the purebloods weren't going to understand the gift but he didn't care. He also had one that was in his trunk. This was going to be great.

The days passed in a blur for Harry. He was having so much fun with his family. He visited Sirius the day after Christmas. They couldn't exchange presents but they were just content being with each other. It seemed to Harry that after each visit Sirius was happier and stronger. The Dementors were having less and less affect on him. He wasn't as cold has he usually was.

"Sirius, do you ever think about just escaping?" Harry asked. "Since you are innocent you shouldn't be there." He rested his head on Sirius' shoulder, as he was accustomed to doing.

"You know that's impossible Pronglet. But you're right; I shouldn't be here. I have you now and that's all that matters to me. I'll be fine if you are fine." Sirius gave Harry a squeeze. He knew that the topic wasn't closed but neither wanted to ruin the time hey had together.

"Do you think I should try to get you a trail? They might listen to me. I do have some standing with the Ministry." He crawled into Sirius' lap, something he had never done before. "I want to be with you. Uncle Remmy and Tonks are great but they can't be my parents. Mum and Dad wanted you for a reason."

"I don't think that's a good idea. I'll never be free Harry. We both have to live with that. You've been here too long; you should leave. Bye Harry." He was miserable that he had to disappoint Harry but he had no choice.

"Bye Padfoot. I'll see you later." Harry vanished as he woke up.

Harry and the others greeted Ron after he got off the train. They told each other about what they did during the holidays. They all laughed when Ron said that Percy almost choked on a Sickle. Over all, the break was good for all the boys.

The next morning, when everyone went down to breakfast, the boys saw that everyone was wearing a t-shirt. They were too but were impressed that Harry's latest prank worked. The prank wasn't that he got everyone wearing t-shirts it was what the shirts said.

Ron's shirt was black and said in red letters 'Don't call me Red and I won't call you an Arse'. Neville's shirt was also black and said 'Dropped on My Head as a Child'. Dean's shirt said 'Not responding to treatment. Seamus' said 'I love nerds'. Hermione was furious that she had a shirt that said 'You Are Soo Off My Buddy List'.

Harry loved tha fact that every Slytherin was wearing a red shirt with gold lettering that said 'Beware of stupid people in large numbers'.

Not even the teachers got away from the prank. Dumbledore had a shirt on that said 'Think old and you'll be old. Think young and you'll be a delusional old fart'. He showed off his new shirt to his staff.

McGonagall was trying to hide her shirt which said 'Curiosity killed the cat but for a while I was the suspect. Snape was doing the same because he was wearing a shirt that said 'I don't need your attitude I have my own'.

"I don't think everyone appreciate their shirts, Harry," said Dean as he sat down to eat.

"I believe you're right. Oh well, not everyone can recognize quality clothing." He too went to eat. "I can't wait to see how they all will react when they realize that the shirts won't come off."

"What do you mean they aren't coming off?" asked Ron. "Harry, Harry, answer me."

"We better get to class. You guys coming." Harry walked off with a smile on his face.

"HARRY!" The others ran after him.