A/N: I went with the movie version of Christmas with Arthur Weasley being at Grimmauld Place instead of St. Mungo's for the purpose of the story.
The days following Rowan and Aurelia's sudden arrival were filled full of conversation and games of Exploding Snap. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and the other Weasley children piled up in Rowan's room, providing distraction while the young witch recovered. Rowan felt tremendously better, the ache of the cruciatus had left her bones but the subsequent brain fuzz left her bleary and prone to headaches, the prejudicial screeching of Kreacher not aiding the situation. Sitting up in bed reading an old novel she had found on a shelf, Rowan's attention was diverted by soft raps on the opened door, her pitch black eyes meeting Harry's emerald as he lingered in the doorway.
"Hey Ro, how are you feeling?" His glasses slid down his nose, a calloused hand reaching up to adjust the circular frames.
"Much better than I was a few days ago, thanks," The raven-haired woman responded, a gentle smile returning to her features.
Harry met her smile, uncomfortably swaying outside of her room.
"You can come in, silly. No need to wait for an invitation. Unless, are you secretly a vampire? If so, invite rescinded, I don't date dark creatures," she teased, eyes crinkling in the corners.
"Oh, so we're dating?" The Boy Who Lived found his cockiness yet again after months of it seemingly being beaten down.
"Well, I assumed, at least with all the snogging you laid on me in Hogsmeade."
The young man blushed, hiding behind his hand as he yet again readjusted his glasses. It was comforting to hear Rowan tease him again, but his heart also swelled at the idea of the pair being declared each other's. Ron had repeatedly complained about Harry having a girlfriend, but it had bothered Harry that he hadn't mustered the courage to actually make that official. Rowan was unique and stunning and the idea of an opportunity to be with her slipping away made his palms sweat. Internally, he was deeply concerned that his association with her would bring her immense danger, reflecting on the manner in which her father had treated her a few days prior and how her brother's allegiance to the Death Eaters and his father had removed his familial tie to his own sister.
Trainers squeaking on the ancient floors of the safe haven that was Grimmauld Place, Harry sat down next to Rowan on the bed, pushing a stray curl off the alabaster colored silk that stretched across her face. Red and purple blossoms had formed on the lithe branches that were her arms, hurting Harry deeply. Upon meeting his gaze, Rowan pressed her lips against his, the tenderness catching Harry off guard. He had never felt this feeling with a girl before, it was beautifully suffocating and exciting, with a dash of a feeling of what Harry imagined a loving home would taste like, something akin to the harmony of a family like the Weasleys. He had been infatuated with Cho, sure, but being around Rowan was an entirely different feeling. Pulling away, Rowan rested her head on his shoulder, continuing to fork through the pages of the text she had begun to read.
Later that evening, Sirius and the young man he considered his son sorted through some of the objects in the former Black estate, dusting and cleaning the decrepit home. Sirius found it the perfect time to ask about the blossoming relationship between the green-eyed young man and the raven-haired female currently chatting with Remus, the Weasleys, and Hermione in the room over.
"So, Harry, do you have yourself a girlfriend?"
A red blush accompanied by a faint smile crept up Harry's face, "I think so, yeah."
"Look at you, charmer you are. Well, she seems kind enough, odd to think of you someday marrying my family though, she is a cousin of mine."
Seemingly choked and surprised by that thought, Harry wheezes, "Well, that hasn't been a thought yet, but thanks for the heart trouble."
Sirius laughed good-naturedly at the fifteen year old boy's reaction to his teasing. He liked the Rosier girl, she made Harry happy and if Harry was happy, so was Sirius. Not to mention, having family that wasn't trying to blast him into the underworld was pleasant. The couple reminded him of a young James and Lily, he just silently mourned that their future might be as dark and bleak as the one of his youth. He worried about the attachment between Rosier's family and the Death Eaters, what if that put Harry more in the path of danger? The Gryffindor loyalty was there, but as was the foolish impulsiveness of being a young man, he knew Harry would do anything for anyone currently residing under the roof of his childhood home, but he often wished Harry would selfish and hide, just so his heart could take a break from the worry of the target that was singed in the young man's forehead.
The pair finished up, bonding over Sirius recounting memories from his youth, joining the rest of the residents of the home in the dining room. Aurelia and Molly were chatting amicably while slicing up vegetables and the teens were laughing over something the Weasley twins had said. They would be returning to school soon, so Sirius was abundantly grateful for the time he did get to spend with Harry. Regarding the dream Harry had dreamed, Sirius would be lying if he said he wasn't worried. Harry had been racking his brain at how Voldemort had gotten in and how he had potentially been in charge of the snake's action.
Tomorrow was Christmas and the days before had been spent tidying, decorating, present shopping, and for Harry and the rest of the teens, accompanying Rowan in her room to entertain each other or with Sirius spending great time with his precious Buckbeak. The group planned to celebrate Christmas all together in the house, Sirius being positively ecstatic with the idea of having more people over. The pair of Rosier females had been warmly welcomed into the holiday celebrations of the Black, Lupin, and Weasley group. Aurelia had splurged after raiding the gold from the shared vault with her husband, deciding to make the gifts from herself and her daughter, purchasing some lovely shoes for Molly and nice accessories and robes for the rest of the Weasleys as well as nice sweaters for Remus. She had also purchased some trinkets for the present Weasley children, Hermione, and Harry as an extension of gratitude for their kindness towards her beloved daughter. For Sirius, she had found an assortment of accessories within the vault she thought he would enjoy. The gift for her own daughter was extravagant, as well as personal, and she was excited to see the young witch's response. She had to take extra precaution to not be followed or traced, but it was worth it.
"Hey Harry, did you get your girlfriend anything for Christmas?" Ron's bellowing, teasing voice sounded out, causing a smack on the arm from Hermione.
"I'm sure Harry did and it was thoughtful, unlike you Ron," Hermione rolled her eyes and knotted her hands in Crookshanks' fur, resting lazily in her lap.
"We've already exchanged gifts, and yes, it was thoughtful," Rowan laughed a little at the constant bickering of Harry's friends, who had also become her friends, hand resting on her neck where the rowan tree pendant hung from a silver braided chain.
"Already exchanged gifts? Lucky, probably snogged each other's faces off, too." Ron huffed, imagining what could be waiting for him in the morning.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ron, didn't know that was on your list this year. Next time I'll let you snog Harry for your Christmas present," Rowan jested, the entire bunch breaking into laughter as Ron's face and ears turned the color of his hair. She loved Ron's loyalty to Harry and enjoyed their back and forth.
Sirius and Remus exchanged a glance, eyes crinkling at the edges from their shared smirks. It sounded reminiscent of their own youth with the constant bickering of James and Sirius over James spending too much time with Lily. Molly had come over to inspect the pendant hanging from the healing witch's neck, lifting it up gently and analyzing the gift from the boy she considered her son to the girl she had a feeling would become another member of her extended family. Molly asked if it was her present from Harry and she nodded, smiling.
"Oh Harry dear, it's a lovely necklace for a lovely girl. Ron, don't be rude. You would not have even considered a necklace," Molly said, hitting Ron over the shoulder with the tea towel that was in her hand.
"Mr. Weasley, how are you feeling today?" Rowan inquired the elder, eyeing up the sling around his shoulder and the cuts along his aged face.
"Quite better, thank you Rowan! And especially thanks to Harry, I wouldn't be here without that boy." The cheery, eccentric man said, nodding at the raven haired beauty at Harry's side.
Harry gently intertwined his fingers with Rowan's under the table, squeezing lightly. The group ate dinner, passing compliments and jokes back and forth. Once dinner had been cleaned up and conversations ceased, the residents of Grimmauld Place went their own ways, getting ready for the last sleep before the celebrations of Christmas Day. Harry wrapped himself in the blanket Rowan had made, resting in the safe harbor of her thoughtful gift, still smelling like her scent of pine and peppermint.
Harry's dreams failed to provide him shelter from his racing thoughts about the serpent, causing him to gasp and fight in his sleep. A small, delicate hand shook him awake, his eyes adjusting to the silhouette of his girlfriend's body in the darkness.
"Harry, are you alright, I could hear you next door," She quickly rushed in a hushed whisper, hands resting on his shoulders.
Harry moaned lightly and wiped the sweat from his brow with his t-shirt, leaning into the beautiful witch's abdomen. Her hands hugged his head against her stomach as he wrapped his arms around her slender, athletic waist.
"Stay with me," he rasped out, loathing the feeling of vulnerability that cast over him like a wave of ice water.
"Harry, I want to, it just might not be looked upon in a great light."
"Please, I just can't be away from you right now," The troubled man felt safety in his partner, the magnetic bond of their relationship keeping them anchored.
"Okay Harry."
Harry slid over, Rowan sliding in the bed next to him, curling up on his chest and entangling their legs. The pair fell into a deep sleep, one they both had been longing for as long as they could recall.
The next morning, they were awoken by the screeching of Ronald Weasley. He was throwing wrapping paper on the floor and unboxing the slew of gifts he had received. At the end of Harry's bed sat two piles of presents, one for himself and one for Rowan. They watched in amusement as Ron obliterated any decorum in his hostile assault of the mound of presents. They gently unwrapped their own and commented on the small things they had gotten. Rowan gasped at the square box from her mother, holding the emerald polluted snake necklace of her late sister. Tears quickly made their way down her face as she traced the mouth of the serpent, cluttered with expensive stones.
"It was my sister's," she managed to gasp out, Harry's eyes flooding with instant understanding, rubbing her shoulder and looking in awe of the extravagant heirloom. Ron pondered how many Firebolts and Zonko's products he could buy by selling the chunky relic in a shop in Diagon Alley.
The residents of the home met downstairs, eating and toasting to the bonding time they had enjoyed and the spirit of the season, as well as to the safety and good health of the Rosiers and Mr. Weasley. The party lasted long with many laughs and old stories emerging like a cacophony of nostalgia. Later that night, Sirius and Harry retired to one of the last remaining Black relic stashes, sorting out things for Kreacher while Hermione and Ron bickered over his dislike for his present for his mother and of his brother Percy's absence.
"Harry, forgive my intrusion, but as your godfather I find it imperative to ask, are you and Rowan close?"
Harry nodded, "We are very close, Sirius, I've never felt this way about anyone before."
Sirius laughed lightly, "Perhaps I should rephrase my question, are you all physically close? Aurelia and I managed present drop off last night and we found you two huddled together, not indecently, but also not in separate rooms as we had arranged."
A blanched coloring crossed Harry's face, "Oh no, no, no, not like that at all. Uh, you see, I had a nightmare and woke her up next door, leading to her coming in and me asking her to stay. I know it was wrong and possibly a violation of trust, but I was so worked up that I felt like I needed her there. I'm really sorry, Sirius."
"It's alright, Harry. I didn't think so nor did I view it as a common happening. I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble sleeping, perhaps we can find a draught to aid you. I just wanted to make sure you were making the correct choices if you two were, um, closer."
"Uh, maybe a draught would work. Thanks for the concern," Harry's eyes darted anywhere but his godfather's face, this was not a conversation he wanted to have with Sirius, he was hoping for an end.
"I dated quite a few pretty witches back in my day and I was reckless, I'm lucky I haven't added more heirs to the House of Black. As your parental figure, I just say to you to exercise caution and use the right spells, even if you're a bit… caught up," Sirius cleared his throat, seemingly uncomfortable.
"Um, of course, Sirius, for sure. I will keep that in mind in the future, uh, far in the future."
Sirius began to bubble with laughter, Harry joining, breaking the awkwardness as they settled into the melancholy idea of being away from each other as Harry would be returning to school. James would be immensely proud of the pair, Sirius for his maturity and guidance, and Harry for this bravery and loving nature, reminiscent of his mother's disposition.
The days grew closer and the bags became packed and ready for the Hogwarts Express. Final hugs and laughs were shared as the underage occupants began their departure back to school, saddened by the end of the quality time they had all shared.