Chapter Twelve: Home For The Holidays

I apologize for such a long delay in updates to this chapter but due to being busy and writer's block I was away for quite a while, but now I'm back to continue! :D

Before Harry knew it the Christmas holidays were upon him and he was now currently in his dormitory packing to go back home for the next few weeks. That's when suddenly Ron went over to see him. "Hey Harry, are you all ready to go home?" He asked him.

"Yeah, and even though I can't believe that we've got homework over break at least we don't have as much as I thought we would. I should be able to finish mine in the first few days, except how is that going to work since we're not allowed to do magic outside of school?" Harry wondered.

"Homework doesn't count since it's school related." Ron began. "Anyways, I really hope that you have a nice Christmas with your family but unfortunately we won't be able to see each other until the new year." He told him.

"Really? Why not?" Harry questioned.

"Cause there's been a change of plans. My family is going to visit my brother who studies dragons in Romania." Ron told him and that's when suddenly a rather wide grin stretched a crossed Harry's face.

"Can I go!?" He cried.

"If Mum and Dad won't even let me go then I highly doubt that you'll be able to. Your parents probably wouldn't even allow it anyways." Ron pointed out as Harry's grin suddenly vanished.

"Oh." He began. "Well maybe my folks will let you spend Christmas with me." He suggested. "After all Hermione's going home too and it wouldn't be right for you to be here all by yourself." He told him.

"Well, are you sure?" Ron questioned him.

"Yeah, I just have to go ask my father." He told him before he finished packing and left the room.

Before long Harry reached his father's office and he reluctantly agreed to let Ron stay with them, but he also stated that he would be sending an owl to his parents. Once they reached King's Cross Station Harry's face lit up as he saw his mother and little brothers and sisters right there before him. He couldn't believe how big Gia, Teddy, and Heather were getting as they could now sit upright and eat solid foods and Teddy and Heather were already starting to teethe.

Harry quickly hurried over towards them excitedly and once they got back home, he started helping Ron unpack. Lily had already managed to get a Christmas tree while they were at Hogwarts but she hadn't decorated it yet. "Harry, Ron, would you both want to help me decorate the tree?" She asked them.

"Sure." They replied simultaneously with grins on both of their faces.

"Since you both can't do magic outside of school yet I'll play fairly and decorate it by hand as well." Lily said as both of the boys nodded silently at her and once they finished decorating most all of the tree, Lily finally managed to stumble a crossed the angel that James and her had bought when they just got married.

"The angel looks a lot like my father." Harry began. "My other father that is." He finished.

"That's because that's how it's supposed to be. We got him our very first Christmas together." She explained before she sat him on top of the very top of the tree.

"Spooky." Ron whispered as Harry just silently nodded in agreement.

"Well, how would you boys want some hot chocolate now?" Lily questioned them with a grin.

"That sounds excellent!" Harry exclaimed excitedly.

"You don't have to tell me twice Mrs. Snape." Ron said as Lily giggled while they all turned and headed towards the kitchen together.

..

Later on, that night as the children slept (and Patches slept at Harry's feet) the house suddenly started becoming very warm. Patches woke up and started sniffing the air and then he started barking when he started smelling smoke disturbing Hedwig from her slumber and waking up Harry and Ron.

"What is it boy? What's wrong?" Harry questioned him anxiously.

"Harry, do you smell something burning?" Ron asked him when suddenly Harry felt a sickish, sinking feeling inside the pit of his stomach while he grabbed his glasses and then put them on his face.

"Oh no! My family!" He cried while he started feeling around his door for any warmth and when there wasn't any, he gathered Patches inside his arms and Hedwig flew out the door while Harry and Ron chased after her and hurried down the stairs two at a time. Once they reached the bottom, they were surrounded in flames everywhere. "Mum! Dad!" Harry cried and that's when suddenly from out of nowhere his father, his biological one appeared.

"It's alright Son, they're already outside. Take my hand." He instructed.

"Harry, who is that?" Ron questioned him with uncertainty.

"He's my father." Harry began. "My other father. I'll explain later." He told him before he took his father's hand and then he led them outside coughing and gasping for breath. Once they were outside once again Harry and Ron stood on either side of Snape and watched sadly as their beloved home was now burnt to a crisp.

Luckily for them they were able to get a hotel close by. "So, I still don't understand how your father was able to save us if he's dead." Ron said as Lily just simply smiled at him.

"Well, just like everything else in the wizarding world, that Christmas angel was magic. We specifically had it custom made just in case anything was ever going to happen to James. That way, he would be able to come back and protect us at Christmastime if he ever needed to." She explained as she smiled at them and then gave a wink before they all went back to bed.